Carbon dioxide, which is recognized as the major contributor to global warming as a “greenhouse gas,” is formed when fossil fuels are combusted, as in electrical power plants fueled by coal, oil, or natural gas. One potential way to reduce the amount of CO₂ added to the atmosphere is to store it as a compressed gas in underground formations. Consider a 1000-megawatt coal-fired power plant that produces about 6⨉10⁶ tons of CO₂ per year. (b) If the CO₂ is stored underground as a liquid at 10 C and 12.16 MPa and a density of 1.2 g/cm³, what volume does it possess?

Verified step by step guidance

1. First, convert the mass of CO2 from tons to grams. Since 1 ton is equal to 1,000,000 grams, multiply 6⨉10^6 tons by 1,000,000 to get the mass in grams.
2. Next, use the density formula to find the volume. The formula is: \( \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}} \). Rearrange this formula to solve for volume: \( \text{Volume} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Density}} \).
3. Substitute the mass of CO2 in grams and the given density (1.2 g/cm³) into the rearranged formula to calculate the volume in cubic centimeters.
4. Convert the volume from cubic centimeters to a more convenient unit if necessary, such as cubic meters or liters, using the conversion factors: 1 m³ = 1,000,000 cm³ and 1 L = 1,000 cm³.
5. Finally, ensure that all units are consistent and check the calculation for any possible errors or assumptions that need to be addressed.