Carbon-based fuels

Question 1

Chemical decomposition

Answer 1

process in which larger chemical species are broken into simpler molecules

Question 2

Coal

Answer 2

combustible fossil fuel formed by the partial decay of plant and animal matter

Question 3

Coal seam gas

Answer 3

natural gas sourced from coal deposits

Question 4

Crude oil

Answer 4

viscous black mixture of hydrocarbons

Question 5

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 5

process of the warming of the Earth’s lower atmosphere due to the increased concentration of gases like carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane in the air

Question 6

Fossil fuel

Answer 6

natural fuel that is formed under the Earth’s crust from the decomposition of plant and/or animal remains over millions of years

Question 7

Fuel

Answer 7

substance that is used (usually combusted) to produce energy

Question 8

Natural gas

Answer 8

fossil fuel consisting of small hydrocarbon molecules

Question 9

Non-renewable resource

Answer 9

resource that cannot be replaced by natural processes within a relatively short period of time

Question 10

Petrol

Answer 10

liquid hydrocarbon fossil fuel purified from crude oil

Question 11

Petroleum

Answer 11

complex mixture of hydrocarbons (often called crude oil) found under Earth’s crust

Question 12

Sustainable

Answer 12

can be produced at a rate that is greater than or equal to the rate of consumption without compromising future generations

Question 13

Biodiesel

Answer 13

fuel produced by the transesterification of fats and oils in organic matter

Question 14

Bioethanol

Answer 14

fuel produced by the anaerobic fermentation of glucose from organic matter

Question 15

Biofuel

Answer 15

fuel sourced from organic matter

Question 16

Biogas

Answer 16

gaseous fuel produced by the anaerobic breakdown of organic matter

Question 17

Biomass

Answer 17

any organic material made of plant or animal matter

Question 18

Carbon neutral

Answer 18

describes a fuel that does not result in a net production of carbon dioxide from sourcing and consumption

Question 19

Distillation

Answer 19

process involving the conversion of a liquid into vapour that is then condensed back to liquid form

Question 20

Feedstock

Answer 20

raw material used for producing another product

Question 21

Fermentation

Answer 21

breakdown of a substance in the presence of microorganisms such as yeast

Question 22

Life cycle

Answer 22

the management of the production, processing, storage, transportation, use, and disposal of a chemical product

Question 23

Renewable resource

Answer 23

resource capable of being replaced by natural processes within a relatively short period of time

Question 24

Transesterification reaction

Answer 24

a type of chemical reaction used to produce biodiesel and glycerol

Question 25

Triglyceride

Answer 25

fat or oil composed of three fatty acid tails and a glycerol backbone

Question 26

Yeast

Answer 26

variety of microorganisms which converts glucose into ethanol

Question 27

Carbohydrate

Answer 27

any polymer made up of sugar monomers like glucose

Question 28

Cellular respiration

Answer 28

process of converting glucose into energy in the cells of living organisms

Question 29

Digestion

Answer 29

a series of complex processes involved in the breakdown of food

Question 30

Energy content

Answer 30

amount of heat energy (in joules or kilojoules) produced upon burning 1 gram of a pure substance

Question 31

Glucose (C6H12O6)

Answer 31

an important sugar that is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells

Question 32

Metabolism

Answer 32

chemical reactions in the body’s cells that change food into energy

Question 33

Photosynthesis

Answer 33

process of converting light energy into chemical energy in the cells of plants, algae, and certain bacteria

Question 34

Activation energy (Ea)

Answer 34

minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to proceed Chemical energy energy stored in the bonds (electrostatic attractions) of chemical compounds

Question 35

Combustion

Answer 35

exothermic reaction between a fuel and oxygen gas

Question 36

Complete combustion

Answer 36

combustion reaction where oxygen gas is in excess, producing only carbon dioxide gas and water

Question 37

Endothermic reaction

Answer 37

chemical reaction that absorbs energy (in the form of heat) from the surrounding environment

Question 38

Energy profile diagram

Answer 38

diagram that represents energy changes during a chemical reaction

Question 39

Enthalpy change (ΔH)

Answer 39

overall change in the chemical energy of a system

Question 40

Exothermic reaction

Answer 40

chemical reaction accompanied by the release of energy (in the form of heat)

Question 41

Heat of combustion

Answer 41

amount of heat released by the complete combustion of a substance

Question 42

Incomplete combustion

Answer 42

combustion reaction where oxygen supply is limited; able to produce a range of carbon-based products in addition to water

Question 43

Molar heat of combustion

Answer 43

amount of heat, in kJ mol−1, released when 1 mole of substance completely combusts in excess oxygen gas

Question 44

Thermochemical equation

Answer 44

balanced chemical equation that includes the enthalpy change (ΔH) of the reaction, measured in kJ mol−1 or kJ