how much space does 20 pounds of co2 take up?

Question

visually, how much space does 20 Lbs of CO2 take up? Like a 10 x 10 x 8 room for example. please cite a source if possible. Thanks

at one atmosphere of pressure, how much space does 20 Lbs of CO2 take up? please give a cubic size if possible, and a source would be great too. Thanks all

Answer 1

in it's solid form...a block about 15 inches square...give or take.

Answer 2

You have left out an important variable.

If the CO2 or any gas occupies a space, then it fills the space evenly. So, if you have one pound, it fills up any room. if you have ten thousand pounds, it fills up any room.

The key is pressure. You need to re-state your question, with the pressure included. If it is one atmosphere (1 ATM) or any other value of pressure, then the question is definable.

Also, since you know the amount of CO2, the volume of the room, then it is a simple equation to determine the pressure - IF the temperature of the gas is known, even more can be determined. The colder is a body of gas, the less active are its molecules, so its requirements for space diminish - lower pressure too.

Please check online for STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure) standardized values with gas laws. Please also take a bit of time to understand these connected issues. This is one of the more complex relationships in chemistry and physics. STP was developed to look at gases with different molecular weights (relating hydrogen & CO2) and be able to understand how they work in a matchiing pressure and temperature environment.

Answer 3

science_joe_2000 is technically right--but I assume that what you wanted was a simple answer, so here goes:

A box full of 20 lbs. of _pure_ CO2 gas, at room temperature, and room pressure (i.e., not compressed), would be a cube about 5.6 feet on each side. (At least if I've done my calculations right).

I'm speculating that you're interested in this because of all the talk lately about such-and-such many pounds of CO2 in the atmosphere. Since CO2 is just a small component of the gases in the atmosphere, the amount of CO2 in a 5.6-foot cube of _normal_ atmospheric gases would be much less than 20 lbs. If you wanted a cube of regular atmosphere that includes 20 lbs. of CO2, that cube would have to be about 78 feet on each side.

Answer 4

20 lbs of co2 = 9071.85 grams
A quick rule of thumb is that 1 mol of any gas = 22.4 L at standard temperature and pressure (0 degrees celcius and 1 atmosphere)

9071.85 grams = 208.18 mols
208.18 mols = 4618.4 liters = 163.1 cubic ft

if we account for the expansion of gas from 0 degrees celcius to room temperature 27 degrees celcius we get

163.1 x 300/273 = 179.2 cubic ft.

this would be a box with sides of 5.64 ft (i.e. 5.64 ft x 5.64 ft x 5.64 ft)

I hope this is what you are looking for.