Chapter 1 Fuels

Question 1

Biofuel

Answer 1

A fuel made from organic material of recent origin. This fuel can generally be replaced as quickly as it is consumed. The main types of biofuels are biodiesel, biogas and bioethanol.

Question 2

Bioethanol

Answer 2

A biofuel made by converting starches from plants into sugars using enzymes and then fermenting the sugars to ethanol using yeast.

Question 3

Biodiesel

Answer 3

A fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat, consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by reacting triglycerides with an alcohol, typically methanol in the presence of KOH as a catalyst.

Question 4

Biogas

Answer 4

A mixture of gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas consists typically mainly of a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide.

Question 5

Cloud point

Answer 5

The temperature at which diesel or biodiesel appear cloudy because of the formation of small crystals and thus begins to freeze. These crystals thicken the fuel and clog filters and fuel injectors in engines.

Question 6

Coal seam gas

Answer 6

Natural gas trapped by pressure on the surface of a coal seam.

Question 7

Energy transformation

Answer 7

The process of converting one form of energy into another form of energy eg heat energy into mechanical energy

Question 8

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 8

The warming of the temperature of the Earth’s surface because of an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases as a result of human activities.

Question 9

Flashpoint

Answer 9

The lowest temperature at which the vapor of a liquid will ignite when an ignition source (such as a flame) is applied to it.

Question 10

Fossil fuel

Answer 10

A fuel made from organic matter of ancient origin which cannot be replaced as quickly as it is consumed. The main fossil fuels are coal, crude oil, natural gas and coal seam gas.

Question 11

Fracking

Answer 11

The process of injecting sand, water or chemicals at high pressure into coal or rock to release trapped natural gas.

Question 12

Fractional distillation

Answer 12

The separation of the components in a mixture on the basis of their boiling temperatures

Question 13

Fuel

Answer 13

A substance with stored energy which can be released relatively easily for use as heat or power. The stored energy can be in the form of chemical energy (eg. coal) or nuclear energy (eg. uranium)

Question 14

Greenhouse effect

Answer 14

The process by which heat radiation from Earth’s surface is absorbed and then re-radiated by gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect maintains the temperature of Earth at conditions which are suitable for life.

Question 15

Greenhouse gas

Answer 15

A gas which is able to absorb and then re-radiate heat radiation. These gases contribute to the Greenhouse effect. Examples are carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor.

Question 16

Hydrogen economy

Answer 16

A proposed system of delivering energy for society using hydrogen as the source of energy

Question 17

LPG (liquified petroleum gas)

Answer 17

A mixture of propane and butane that is separated from natural gas or crude oil. It is stored under pressure to liquefy the propane and butane.

Question 18

Natural gas

Answer 18

A fossil fuel comprising mainly methane which exist in the gas phase under the conditions in which they are extracted from Earth.

Question 19

Non-renewable

Answer 19

Non-renewable energy resources are those which are being used at a faster rate than they are being replaced.

Question 20

Petrodiesel

Answer 20

Diesel fuel derived from crude oil by fractional distillation. The composition of of petrodiesel varies, but is generally around 75 per cent alkanes and 25 per cent aromatic hydrocarbons. The size of the hydrocarbons ranges from C10 to C15

Question 21

Renewable

Answer 21

Renewable resources are not in limited supply eg wind power or can be replaced as quickly as they are consumed (eg biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas).

Question 22

Shale gas

Answer 22

Natural gas which is trapped beneath shale rock deposits, usually well below the Earth’s surface.