C6: The Earth and Atmosphere Flashcards
How is biodiesel made?
From vegetable oils extracted from plants
Name 5 advantages to using biodiesel as a fuel
•less harmful to plants and animals •breaks down 5x faster •reduces particulates and sulphur dioxide emitted •cheaper when diesel runs out •carbon neutral
Name 2 disadvantages to using biodiesel for fuel
•uses large areas of farmland that could be used for food •if biodiesel freezes it turns into sludge and it useless
Name 3 biofuels
•biodiesel •hydrogen •ethanol
Name 2 places ethanol is made
•sugar cane •sugar beet
Name 2 advantages to using ethanol fuel
•can be added to petrol to save money •the reaction is reversible and continuous
Name 2 disadvantages of using ethanol as fuel
•gives off carbon dioxide •not a renewable source
Name 3 advantages of using hydrogen as a fuel
•burns well (clear flame) •water is the only product •no harmful products released
Name 3 disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel
•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
What are biofuels?
Fuels made from plant or animal products and are renewable
“The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment”. What is this sentence describing?
The Carbon Cycle
List 3 ways that carbon can be put into the atmosphere (in the form of carbon dioxide)
- Respiration - Burning fossil fuels - Decomposition
Name one way carbon can be removed from the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis
What is the problem with cutting down trees to burn as a fuel?
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!
What are the %s of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen - 78% Oxygen - 21% Carbon dioxide - 0.04%
Give 7 features of a sustainable house and a reason why each feature is sustainable.
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.
What are some of the drawbacks of sustainability?
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.
What is different about different length hydrocarbons?
They have different boiling points
What is the name given to separating crude oil by distillation?
Fractional distillation
Define fuel
A substance that releases energy when it’s burned
What is crude oil?
A mixture of hydrocarbons that comes directly from the earths crust
Describe the:Boiling pointVolatilityViscosity FlammabilityFor a short chain hydrocarbon
Boiling point: low Volatility: high Viscosity: low Flammability: high (clean)
Describe the:Boiling pointVolatilityViscosity FlammabilityFor a long chain hydrocarbon
Boiling point: high Volatility: low Viscosity: high Flammability: low (smokey)
What is volatility?
How easyily it vaporises (evaporates to form a gas)
What is viscosity?
How thick/runny it is
Give the general formula for alkanes
C8H18 n=8 2n+2 = 18
How does fractional distillation work?
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
What is the complete combustion of hydrocarbons?
When the hydrocarbons react fully with oxygen. They are oxidised to carbon dioxide and water
Write a word equation for the complete combustion of ethane
methane + oxygen –> carbon dioxide + water
What is the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?
When there is not enough oxygen to oxidise the hydrocarbons so some carbon is left over as particulates or carbon monoxide
What colour does a flame burn if there is incomplete combustion?
Orange/yellow
Why do particulates cause global dimming?
The particulates, as solid tiny particles, reflect sunlight away from the earth so causes global dimming
How is acid rain formed?
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with oxygen in the air and dissolves in water to produce acid rain
How can we reduce the amount of silhouette dioxide being produced?
•remove the sulphur from the fuel before you burn it •remove sulphur dioxide from the waste gases produced from power stations
