Sunday, July 31, 2016

Below is the chemical structure of kerosene used for jet fuel.





Figures 1 through 4 are varieties of the initial molecule. 

The over arching molecule on the top has 19 carbons. On the left of the molecule is (CH3)2. That mean there are two carbons from each of the CH3 (methyl) groups. Then there is a carbon structure in the middle followed by carbon rings all the way to the right

One might think that is not so bad considering the other numbers of carbons in the other compounds and that would be a correct assessment. But, where this is frustrating is the jets burn huge amounts of fuel. So, the numbers of carbon atoms entering the troposphere is enormous just from one jet.

The other fossil fuels are burnt more efficiently in cars. So, while kerosene used in jets seems to have less carbons per molecule there are many, many more molecules being burned and the cost to the carbon budget of Earth is escalated far quicker.