NO. I FUEL ECONOMY MITMAN 3 



(i) 12 parts carbon + 32 parts oxygen = 44 parts carbon dioxide 

 gas (a ratio of i carbon to 2.7 oxygen), 



and in the second, 



( 2 ) 12 parts carbon + 16 parts oxygen = 28 parts carbon monoxide 

 gas (a ratio of i carbon to 1.3 oxygen). 



Chemical science has estabHshed the fact that the relationships ex- 

 pressed in reactions (i) and (2) are invariably fixed; for instance, 

 that 12 parts of carbon requires exactly 32 parts of oxygen, forming 

 exactly 44 parts carbon dioxide gas. Furthermore, the heat evolved 

 in these combinations is a constant cjuantity. The heat evolved in 

 reaction (i) is, however, over three times -greater in amount that 

 that evolved in reaction (2) for the reason that the former is the 

 result of complete combustion. As a matter of fact, the carbon 

 monoxide gas formed in reaction (2) can be ignited in the presence 

 of air, and in the process of its combustion is converted to carbon 

 dioxide. The heat released by this reaction added to that of reaction 

 (2) will be equal to that released by the complete burning of carbon 

 to carbon dioxide, as shown in reaction (i). Unburned and allowed 

 to escape up the chimney, it means just so much coal (about two- 

 thirds) wasted, or a 450 B. t. u. extraction from a 1350 B. t. u. 

 coal. Yet it is not at all uncommon for a consumer to haggle over a 

 variation of 50 heat units in the coal furnished him without giving 

 the least heed to what is going up the stack. 



Let us consider the matter of fixed relationships of ingredients a 

 little further. If mstead of supplying the exact amount of oxygen 

 as called for in reaction (i), more is supplied, then, on the basis of 

 chemical law, 



(3) 12 parts carbon + 50 parts oxygen = 44 parts carbon dioxide 



gas -f- 18 parts uncombined oxygen (a ratio of i carbon to 

 4.2 oxygen), 



while if less oxygen is supplied than theoretically rec[uired, the reac- 

 tion would be 



(4) 12 parts carbon -1-20 parts oxygen = 8 parts carbon dioxide 



gas -f 24 parts carbon monoxide gas (a ratio of i carbon to 

 1.8 oxygen). 



Comparing reaction (3) with reaction (i) it will be noted that 

 while the carbon consumed, and hence the heat generated, remains the 

 same, the resultant gases have been materially increased in volume. 

 When we consider further that the addition of 18 parts of oxygen, 



