C6: The Earth and Atmosphere

Question 1

How is biodiesel made?

Answer 1

From vegetable oils extracted from plants

Question 2

Name 5 advantages to using biodiesel as a fuel

Answer 2

•less harmful to plants and animals •breaks down 5x faster •reduces particulates and sulphur dioxide emitted •cheaper when diesel runs out •carbon neutral

Question 3

Name 2 disadvantages to using biodiesel for fuel

Answer 3

•uses large areas of farmland that could be used for food •if biodiesel freezes it turns into sludge and it useless

Question 4

Name 3 biofuels

Answer 4

•biodiesel •hydrogen •ethanol

Question 5

Name 2 places ethanol is made

Answer 5

•sugar cane •sugar beet

Question 6

Name 2 advantages to using ethanol fuel

Answer 6

•can be added to petrol to save money •the reaction is reversible and continuous

Question 7

Name 2 disadvantages of using ethanol as fuel

Answer 7

•gives off carbon dioxide •not a renewable source

Question 8

Name 3 advantages of using hydrogen as a fuel

Answer 8

•burns well (clear flame) •water is the only product •no harmful products released

Question 9

Name 3 disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel

Answer 9

•produced by electrolysis = lots of electricity •a gas, so takes up big volumes •can be condensed in a high pressure cylinder but will explode if the car crashes

Question 10

What are biofuels?

Answer 10

Fuels made from plant or animal products and are renewable

Question 11

“The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment”. What is this sentence describing?

Answer 11

The Carbon Cycle

Question 12

List 3 ways that carbon can be put into the atmosphere (in the form of carbon dioxide)

Answer 12

• Respiration - Burning fossil fuels - Decomposition

Question 13

Name one way carbon can be removed from the atmosphere.

Answer 13

Photosynthesis

Question 14

What is the problem with cutting down trees to burn as a fuel?

Answer 14

Burning wood releases carbon dioxide into the air. Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contribute to global warming/ climate change. Fewer trees also means less photosynthesis, which removes carbon dioxide form the atmosphere. A double whammy!

Question 15

What are the %s of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Answer 15

Nitrogen - 78% Oxygen - 21% Carbon dioxide - 0.04%

Question 16

Give 7 features of a sustainable house and a reason why each feature is sustainable.

Answer 16

Motion sensor lighting: This means that the lights will only be on when people are inside the house, reducing energy usage. Triple Glazed Windows: This will reduce heat loss through the windows, meaning that less energy will be required to heat the house, reducing energy usage. Faucet Aerator: Adds air to water meaning that less water is used, reducing water waste. Gas Condensing Boiler: An incredibly efficient boiler that uses transforms 90% of the energy used into heat, reducing energy consumption. Insulation: Heats home quicker, less heat is loss, reducing energy consumption.

Question 17

What are some of the drawbacks of sustainability?

Answer 17

Extra cost Require sacrifice Many houses are currently inefficient and are difficult to make sustainable Some people don’t believe in climate change or that sustainability is necessary.

Question 18

What is different about different length hydrocarbons?

Answer 18

They have different boiling points

Question 19

What is the name given to separating crude oil by distillation?

Answer 19

Fractional distillation

Question 20

Define fuel

Answer 20

A substance that releases energy when it’s burned

Question 21

What is crude oil?

Answer 21

A mixture of hydrocarbons that comes directly from the earths crust

Question 22

Describe the:Boiling pointVolatilityViscosity FlammabilityFor a short chain hydrocarbon

Answer 22

Boiling point: low Volatility: high Viscosity: low Flammability: high (clean)

Question 23

Describe the:Boiling pointVolatilityViscosity FlammabilityFor a long chain hydrocarbon

Answer 23

Boiling point: high Volatility: low Viscosity: high Flammability: low (smokey)

Question 24

What is volatility?

Answer 24

How easyily it vaporises (evaporates to form a gas)

Question 25

What is viscosity?

Answer 25

How thick/runny it is

Question 26

Give the general formula for alkanes

Answer 26

C8H18 n=8 2n+2 = 18

Question 27

How does fractional distillation work?

Answer 27

The crude oil is vaporised and enters a tall fractionating column. The column gets colder the higher up you go. The different length hydrocarbons condense at different points so are then collected at the area where they condensed, as a liquid

Question 28

What is the complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

Answer 28

When the hydrocarbons react fully with oxygen. They are oxidised to carbon dioxide and water

Question 29

Write a word equation for the complete combustion of ethane

Answer 29

methane + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water

Question 30

What is the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?

Answer 30

When there is not enough oxygen to oxidise the hydrocarbons so some carbon is left over as particulates or carbon monoxide

Question 31

What colour does a flame burn if there is incomplete combustion?

Answer 31

Orange/yellow

Question 32

Why do particulates cause global dimming?

Answer 32

The particulates, as solid tiny particles, reflect sunlight away from the earth so causes global dimming

Question 33

How is acid rain formed?

Answer 33

Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with oxygen in the air and dissolves in water to produce acid rain

Question 34

How can we reduce the amount of silhouette dioxide being produced?

Answer 34

•remove the sulphur from the fuel before you burn it •remove sulphur dioxide from the waste gases produced from power stations