(d) In March 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled 240,000 barrels of crude petroleum off the coast of Alaska. One barrel of petroleum is equal to 42 gal. How many liters of petroleum were spilled?
Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement

Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 1, Problem 61c
(c) If an automobile is able to travel 400 km on 47.3 L of gasoline, what is the gas mileage in miles per gallon?
Verified step by step guidance1
Convert the distance from kilometers to miles using the conversion factor: 1 km = 0.621371 miles.
Convert the volume from liters to gallons using the conversion factor: 1 L = 0.264172 gallons.
Calculate the gas mileage by dividing the distance traveled in miles by the volume of gasoline used in gallons.
Set up the equation for gas mileage: \( \text{Gas Mileage} = \frac{\text{Distance in miles}}{\text{Volume in gallons}} \).
Simplify the equation to find the gas mileage in miles per gallon.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Unit Conversion
Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one set of units to another. In this question, it involves converting kilometers to miles and liters to gallons. Understanding the conversion factors (1 km = 0.621371 miles and 1 L = 0.264172 gallons) is essential for accurately calculating the gas mileage.
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Gas Mileage Calculation
Gas mileage, often expressed in miles per gallon (mpg), measures the distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel consumed. To calculate it, one divides the total distance traveled by the total volume of fuel used. This concept is crucial for evaluating vehicle efficiency and environmental impact.
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Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a mathematical technique used to convert one set of units to another by using conversion factors. It ensures that the units cancel appropriately, leading to the correct final units. In this problem, dimensional analysis helps in systematically converting kilometers and liters into miles and gallons to find the desired gas mileage.
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