C6 - Global Challenges Flashcards
Methane:

Ethane

Propane

Butane

Define a ‘hydrocarbon’
A compound made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms
Define a ‘homologous series’
A group where each compound has the same general formula with each successive member differing by CH2. All compounds have the same properties.
General formula of alkanes?
CnH2n+2
How do alkanes react?
They react in a process called combustion.
Complete combustion:
Alkane + O2 –> CO2 + H2O
2C2H6 + 7O2 —> 4CO2 + 6H2O
Incomplete combustion:
Alkane + O2 –> CO + H2O
2C2H6 + 5O2 —> 4CO + 6H2O
What is crude oil?
It is a fossil fuel.
It is a non-renewable resource - it is being used up faster than it is being formed
How is crude oil formed?
They are formed from the remains of dead organisms that lived millions of years ago - chemical reactions over time turned them into crude oil
How do we separate crude oil?
Using fractional distillation
What are alkenes?
A homologous series of hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon double bond
General formula of alkenes?
CnH2n
What is the functional group for alkenes?
C=C
Define a ‘functional group’
An atom or group of atoms which give a molecule its chemical properties
How do you test for alkenes?
- React bromine water with the alkene
- Mixture should turn colourless if alkenes are present
What is ‘cracking’?
Cracking is a chemical process which converts large alkanes into smaller alkanes and alkenes
For example:
C7H16 –> C2H4 + C5H12
Heptane –> ethene + pentane
What are the typical conditions for cracking?
High temperature (600-700°)
Hot catalyst of alumina or silica
Why is cracking done?
Smaller hydrocarbons are more useful to use as:
- They have lower boiling points
- They flow more easily
- They are easier to ignite
Cracking also helps the supply to meet the demand
What are ‘addition polymers’?
They are made from an additon reaction in which molecules join together to make 1 big molecule
What are the first four alcohols?
Methanol
Ethanol
Propanol
Butanol
What are the first four alkanes?
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
What are the first three alkenes?
Ethene
Propene
Butene
General formula of alcohols?
CnH2n+1OH
What is the functional group for alcohols?
OH
Ethene

Propene

Butene

Methanol

Ethanol

Propanol

Butanol

How do alcohols react with metals?
Ethanol + Sodium –> Sodium Ethoxide + Hydrogen
2C2H5OH + 2Na –> 2C2H5ONa + H2
Combustion of alcohols:
Complete:
ethanol + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water
2C2H5OH + 6O2 —> 4CO2 + 6H2O
Incomplete:
ethanol + oxygen —> carbon monoxide + water
C2H5OH + 2O2 —> 2CO + 3H2O
What observations do you see when an alcohol reacts with a metal?
- Bubbles
- White solid formed if fully evaporated
- Slow, less vigorous reaction
How do alcohols oxidise?
They oxidise to a type of molecule called a carboxylic acid. This is accompanied by a colour change.
Functional group of a carboxylic acid:
COOH
Methanoic acid

Ethanoic acid

Propanoic acid

Butanoic acid

How are carboxylic acids formed?
They are formed when an alcohol oxidises to produce water and a carboxylic acid
e.g.
Ethanol + oxidising agent —-> Ethanoic acid + water
C2H5OH + 2[O] —> CH3COOH + 2H2O
General formula of carboxylic acids
CnH2nO2
Ethyl Ethanoate:

Crude Oil Fractionating column:

Functional group of esters
COO
How is crude oil separated by fractional distillation?
The oil is heated until most of it has turned into gas.
The gases enter a fractionating column, (the liquid parts, bitumen, are drained off)
In the column, there is a temperature gradient (it is hot at the bottom and gets gradually cooler)
The longer hydrocarbons have higher boiling points. They turn back into liquids and drain out of the column early on, when they are near the bottom.
The shorter hydrocarbons have lower boiling points. They turn to liquid and drain out much later on, near the top.
Finally, the crude oil mixture is separated out into different fractions. Each fraction contains a mixture of hydrocarbons, mostly alkanes, with similar boiling points.
How are esters formed?
Esters are made by reacting alcohols with carboxylic acids in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst
How to draw an ester:
- Remove OH from the acid
- Remove H from alcohol
- Join remaining pieces together
Drawing condensation polymers:
- Remove double bond
- Extend bonds either side
- Add brackets
- Write ‘n’ outside the brackets
Condensation vs Addition Polymers
Addition:
1 monomer always
1 functional group
No bi-products
Condensation:
1 or 2 monomers
2 functional groups
Usually water formed
What is the functional group for amines?
NH2
What is hydrogenation?
It is when alkenes are reacted with hydrogen. The hydrogen reacts with the double-bonded carbons and adds across the double bonds.
How does a chemical cell work?
- They have two halves
- One half of the cell is losing electrons - oxidation
- The other half is gaining electrons - reduction
- The electrons flow from the first half to the second half, producing a current
- This continues until the reactants are used up
What is a fuel cell?
A fuel cell produces electrical energy efficiently from an exothermic reaction
How does a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell work?
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells use hydrogen as their fuel.
- When oxygen or air are supplied, the hydrogen and oxygen react together to produce water - 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O
- The energy released in the reaction is used to produce a potential difference
- This causes current to flow when the fuel cell is connected in a circuit
What happens at the anode in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell?
Hydrogen molecules lose electrons at the anode and become hydrogen ions:
H2 –> 2H+ + 2e-
What happens at the cathode in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell?
When hydrogen ions reach the cathode, they combine with oxygen and electrons from the electrical circuit.
4H+ + O2 + 4e- –> 2H2O
Advantages of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell:
- High efficiency
- Theoretically zero emission
- No harmful waste products
- Uses renewable sources of energy
- Lightweight and compact
- No moving parts
Disadvantages of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell:
- Often uses poisonous catalysts
- The method used to produce the hydrogen for the fuel cells uses fossil fuels which produce pollutants
Why is ammonia important?
Ammonia is an important raw material in making fertilisers
What nutrients are needed by plants?
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
What are the signs of mineral deficiency?
Poor growth, discoloured leaves
What form do the nutrients need to be in in order to be absorbed by the plants?
They need to be in a water-soluble form (i.e. ions)
What are the typical ions in NPK fertilisers?
NO3- - provides nitrogen
NH4+ - provides nitrogen
PO43- - provides phosphorus
K+ - provides potassium
What is the definition of a fertiliser?
Fertlisers are substances that replace the elements used by plants as they grow
How are fertilisers made?
Most fertilisers are made by reacting ammonia, which is a base, with an acid, to make a salt which contains at least one of the essential elements.
e.g. Ammonia + Sulfuric acid –> Ammonium Sulfate
What are the raw materials for the Haber Process
Air, natural gas, steam
What temperature is used in the Haber Process?
450oC
What pressure is used in the Haber Process?
200 atmospheres
What catalyst is used in the Haber Process?
An Iron catalyst
What product is produced in the Haber Process?
Ammonia - NH3
What are the raw materials in the Contact Process?
Sulfur, air, water
What temperature is used in the Contact Process?
450oC
What pressure is used in the Contact Process?
2 atmospheres
What catalyst is used in the Contact Process?
Vanadium Oxide catalyst
What product is produced in the Contact Process?
Sulfuric acid
Why is a low pressure used in the Contact Process?
A low pressure is used as the equilibrium position is already pushed to the right.
There is no need for a high pressure, since 2 atmospheres is just enough to push the gases through the converter.
What is the chemical formula for the Haber Process?
N2 + 3H2 ⇔ 2NH3
What is the purpose of the Haber Process?
The Haber Process is used to manufacture ammonia from hydrogen and nitrogen.
Ammonia is an important raw material in making fertilisers
How is nitrogen produced for the Haber Process?
Nitrogen is produced by the fractional distillation of liquefied air
How is hydrogen produced for the Haber Process?
Hydrogen is manufactured by reacting natural gas (methane) with steam
What is the first stage of the Contact process?
Sulfur + Oxygen –> Sulfur dioxide
S + O2 –> SO2
What is the second stage of the Contact process?
Sulfur dioxide + Oxygen ⇔ Sulfur trioxide
2SO2 + O2 ⇔ 2SO3
What is the third stage of the Contact process?
Sulfur trioxide + Water –> Sulfuric acid
SO3 + H2O –> H2SO4
Define a batch process
A series of operations which are carried out over a period of time
Define a continuous process
A process in which the product comes out without interruptions and not in groups
Define an ore
An ore is a rock or a mineral that contains enough metal to make it economical to extract the metal
What compound is copper extracted from?
Copper is extracted from copper(II) sulfide
How is copper extracted?
It is extracted from copper (II) sulfide in two stages:
Stage 1 - Copper (II) sulfide is heated in air to produce copper oxide and sulfur dioxide
Stage 2 - Copper (II) oxide is heated with carbon to form copper and carbon dioxide
What is the chemical formula for stage 1 during the extraction of copper?
2CuS + 3O2 –> 2CuO + 2SO2
What is the chemical formula for stage 2 during the extraction of copper?
2CuO + C –> 2Cu + CO2
How is iron extracted?
Iron is extracted from its ore using a blast furnace
What raw materials are used in the extraction of iron?
Iron ore
Coke (carbon)
Limestone
What is the first reaction that takes place in the extraction of iron?
The coke burns:
C + O2 –> CO2
What is the second reaction that takes place in the extraction of iron?
The limestone thermally decomposes:
CaCO3 –> CaO + CO2
What is the third reaction that takes place in the extraction of iron?
The carbon dioxide reacts with more coke:
CO2 + C –> 2CO
Why is carbon dioxide reacted with more coke?
To make it into a better reducing agent
How is iron formed in the extraction of iron?
The carbon monoxide reduces the iron ore to iron metal:
Fe2O3 + 3CO –> 2Fe + 3CO2
What is the calcium oxide used for in the extraction of iron?
The calcium oxide combines with the impurities to form the liquid slag:
CaO + SiO2 –> CaSiO3
Why can you not extract aluminium in the same way you can extract copper or iron?
It cannot be extracted like iron or copper as it is more reactive than carbon
How is aluminium extracted?
Through electrolysis
Why is the electrolysis of aluminium oxide difficult?
Electrolysis only works if the compound is in solution or if it is molten - however aluminium oxide does not dissolve in water and its melting point is very high.
How is aluminium oxide electrolysed?
First, it must be dissolved in molten cryolite which has a much lower melting point of 950ºC.
The molten mixture is contains in a large electrolysis cell made from steel lined with graphite.
During the process:
- Aluminium is produced at the cathode
- Oxygen is produced at the anodes
What acts as the cathode in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide?
The graphite lining
What acts as the anode in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide?
A series of large graphite blocks
What is the overall equation in the extraction of aluminium?
2Al2O3 –> 4Al + 3O2
What is the half equation for the reaction that occurs at the cathode during the extraction of aluminium?
Al3+ + 3e- –> Al
What is the half equation for the reaction that occurs at the anode during the extraction of aluminium?
2O2- –> O2 + 4e-
What is a high grade ore?
An ore that contains many metal ions
What is a low grade ore?
An ore that contains very little metal ions
What is bioleaching?
Bioleaching is a method of extraction using bacteria.
The bacteria break the bonds between the copper and sulfide ions.
Once broken, copper atoms are formed.
What are the benefits of bioleaching?
The benefits of bioleaching is that it is cheaper than traditional mining and processing.
It also allows metals to be extracted from ores that contain too little metals.
It also does not release harmful sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere
What are the disadvantages of bioleaching?
It is much slower than traditional methods.
Toxic substances are sometimes produced which need to be treated carefully.
What is phytoextraction?
It is the process of plants taking up metal ions from the soil, and then being burnt in order to retrieve the metal compounds
How is copper extracted through phytoextraction?
Some plants take up copper metals from the soil.
Once the copper has been taken up and stored by the plant, it is burnt.
Once burned, copper oxide is left.
This is impure so it is electrolysed in order to form pure copper
What are the benefits of phytoextraction?
It is cheaper than traditional mining and processing.
It produces less waste and involves smaller energy transfers
It is also closer to being a carbon-neutral activity that can contribute to sustainable development
What are the disadvanatges of phytoextraction?
It is quite slow.
Crops may need replanting and harvesting for several years before the available metal is removed from the soil.
What is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal
What metals are used to make steel?
Mainly iron as well as smaller amounts of other metals and carbon
What metals are used to make duralumin?
Aluminium and copper
What metals are used to make solder?
Tin and copper
What metals are used to make brass?
Copper and zinc
What metals are used to make bronze?
Copper and tin
What are the typical uses for steel?
Buildings, bridges, cars
What are the typical uses for duralumin?
Aircraft parts
What are the typical uses for solder?
Joining electrical components and copper pipes
What are the typical uses for brass?
Musical instruments and coins
What are the typical uses for bronze?
Bells, propellers for ships
What are the overall properties of steel?
High tensile strength, hard, tough, durable, resistant to corrosion
What are the overall properties of duralumin?
Strong, light-weight, malleable, good conductor of heat and electricity
What are the overall properties of solder?
Ductile, good conductor of heat and electricity
What are the overall properties of brass?
Low-friction, malleable
What are the overall properties of bronze?
High resistance to corrosion, brittle, high melting point
What is corrosion?
Corrosion is the reaction of a metal with substances in its surroundings. E.g. oxygen and water
What is rust?
Rust is a specific type of corrosion which only happens to iron.
It is a redox reaction
What is the reaction for the process of rusting?
Iron + Oxygen + Water –> Hydrated Iron (III) Oxide
4Fe + 3O2 + 2H2O –> 2Fe2O3•H2O
What are the methods used to prevent corrosion?
- Painting
- Coating with oil, grease or plastic
- Plating with zinc (galvanising)
- Plating with tin
How is zinc used to plate iron?
Iron is dipped in molten zinc to coat the iron.
It acts as a physical barrier between the iron and the air.
Since zinc is more reactive than iron, it will sacrifice itself to protect the iron if damaged.
What is sacrificial protection?
When a more reactive metal is used as plating and thus sacrifices itself if there is damage.
How is tin used to plate iron?
It is coated by electroplating.
It acts as a physical barrier between the iron and the air
Since it is less reactive, the iron will react first if the tin is damaged.
Definition of strength
The ability to withstand a force/load
Definition of Hardness
The ability to resist scratching/denting
Definition of Durability
The ability to function correctly whilst lasting a long time
Definition of Brittle
When an object shatters when enough force is applied
Definition of Flexible
How much you can bend an object when a force is applied
Definition of Malleable
How much you can hammer an object into shape without it breaking
Definition of Compressive strength
How well an object can resist a force when being squashed
Definition of Tensile strength
How well an object can resist a force when being stretched
Definition of Density
How much mass is in a given volume
Definition of Lightweight
An object with low density
What is a composite material?
A composite material is 2 or more materials combined of which each has different properties
Examples of composite materials
Fibreglass
Carbon Fibre
Reinforced concrete
Describe fibreglass/carbon fibre
Made from glass/carbon fibres and resin
Resin is durable but not strong
Fibres have low density and a high tensile strength
Thus fibreglass/carbon fibre is lightweight, strong and hard
Describe reinforced concrete
Made from steel bars and concrete
Concrete has a high compressive strength
Steel has a high tensile strength
What is a life cycle assessment?
A ‘cradle to grave’ assessment of the impact of making, using and disposing of a manufactured product
Examples that are considered in a life cycle assessment:
Sustainability
Enironmental impact
Life span of the product
Recycling possibility
Why recycle?
Lower costs when recycling
Prevents it going to landfill
Some materials have a finite source
What are the considerations when debating whether to recycle a product or not?
Is it low cost?
Does it use a lot of energy?
Is it at a high quality once recycled?
How limited are the raw materials?
How difficult is it to sort before recycling?
What are the steps when recycling metals?
Collecting and transporting the used metals to a recycling centre
Breaking up and sorting the different metals
Removing impurities from the metals
They are then melted by heating and the molten metal is poured into moulds to produce new blocks called ingots
How is paper recycled?
Paper is mixed with water, cleaned, and then rolled and heated to make new paper
How is glass recycled?
Glass is melted by heating and moulded into new glass objects
What are the two methods used to recycle polymers?
Open-loop recycling
Closed-loop recycling
What is open loop recycling?

What is closed loop recycling?

What are the three main gases in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Argon - 0.9%
How was Earth’s early atmosphere formed?
It is likely it was formed from substances released by volcanoes
During the early years, there was a great deal of volcanic activity. They released huge volumes of water vapour and carbon dioxide.
The water vapour condensed to form oceans, leaving an atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide
How has an oxygen-rich atmosphere developed over time?
Plants and algae had grown and they make their own food through photosynthesis.
They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane absorb infrared radiation radiated by the Earth’s surface, then emit it in all directions
What are the different steps in the greenhouse effect?
- Energy transferred by radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth’s surface
- The radiation warms up the Earth’s surface
- Infrared radiation is emitted by the Earth’s surface. Some goes directly into space. Some is absorbed by greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere
- Greenhouse gas molecules emit infrared radiation in all directions, warming the Earth’s surface and atmosphere
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The release of additional greenhouse gases by human activities has the potential to cause an enhanced greenhouse effect, increasing the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere.
How can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced?
By:
- Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, for example by using biofuels
- Using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy to generate electricity
- Stopping carbon dioxide escaping when fuels are used by using carbon capture
What are pollutants?
Substances released into the environment which may harm living things
How is carbon monoxide formed?
From the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels
How are carbon particulates formed?
From the incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels
Why do acidic oxides cause problems?
Normally the main gases in air, nitrogen and oxygen, do not react.
However they do react at high temperatures in vehicle engines forming nitrogen monoxide, which is oxidised in air to form nitrogen dioxide.
Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in the moisture in clouds, forming an acidic solution, which eventually falls as acid rain.
How is carbon monoxide removed from the air?
By using alternatives to fossil fuels
How are carbon particulates removed from the air?
By using alternatives to fossil fuels
How is sulfur dioxide removed from the air?
Power stations can use scrubbers which cleans the gases passing through the smokestack.
How are NOx gases removed from the air?
Catalytic converters in cars turn nitrogen monoxide into nitrogen
What are NOx gases?
Nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide
What is potable water?
Water which is safe to drink
What are the 3 main requirements for potable water?
Must have a low level of dissolved substances
Must have a pH between 6.5-8.5
No microorganisms
What are the three sources of water?
Fresh water - groundwater, surface water
Salt water - seawater
Waste water - sewage water
How is fresh water treated?
There are three stages in filtering fresh water:
- Filtration
- Sedimentation
- Sterilisation
Firstly, a coarse filter is used to remove any large objects.
Then, it gets passed onto the next tank where the waste sits onto the floor (sedimentation)
Next, a fine filter is used to remove any fine grains.
Finally, chlorine is added to sterilise the water where it is then stored in a tank.

How is waste water treated?
Waste water treatment is very similar to fresh water treatment except bacteria are used.
Firstly, a coarse filter is used to remove any large objects.
Then, it gets passed onto the next tank where the waste sits onto the floor (sedimentation). The sludge left on the floor is sent to tanks to be decomposed by anaerobic bacteria
Next, a fine filter is used to remove any fine grains. Aerobic bacteria are used to remove any organic waste.
Finally, chlorine is added to sterilise the water where it is then stored in a tank.

What are the two methods used to treat salt water?
Reverse osmosis
Distillation
How is salt water treated using distillation?
The mixture is heated until the water evaporates out the tank.
It then passes through a large condensation tube where it condenses into pure water.

How is salt water treated using reverse osmosis?
Pressure is applied to salt water where it then passes through a partially permeable membrane where only water molecules can pass through.
Filtered water remains.
