Burning Hydrocarbons Flashcards
When you burn a fuel what does it release
Heat energy
Burning is a endothermic/exothermic reaction
Exothermic
Substance burned reacts with oxygen and release a lot of energy
Name the 2 types of combustion reactions:
Complete
Incomplete
What conditions are needed to a complete combustion and what is released
- needs lots of oxygen
- releases carbon dioxide + water
When does incomplete combustion occur
When there is not enough oxygen e.g. boilers
What does incomplete combustion produce
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Water (H2O)
Carbon dioxide(CO2, in the form of soot)
Why is carbon monoxide toxic and what are the dangers
- can combine with haemoglobin in red blood cells
- stops blood carrying oxygen
- lead to fainting, coma, death
What may be produced when fuels are burnt?
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen oxides
How are nitrogen oxides created and what is produced
When temperature is high enough for nitrogen and oxygen in the air to react. Often happens in car engines
- produces nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide(NO2)
When sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) mix with water vapour what will they form and what is the consequence?
Forms dilute sulfuric acid and nitric acid
- dissolve in rain water to give acid rain
- acids rain destroys buildings, kills forests and aquatic life in lakes/rivers
When does an incomplete reaction happen and what does it release
limited O2
Release: CO and H2O
When does an complete reaction happen and what does it release
- needs lots of O2
- releases CO2 and H2O
