SC8: fuels and earth science Flashcards
hydrocarbons
compounds that only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms (covalently bonded)
crude oil
-a natural resource that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons
-the carbon atoms in these molecules are joined together in chains and rings of different lengths, the different lengths give each chain unique properties
finite
limited
why is crude oil finite?
it forms very slowly over millions of years and can’t be quickly replaced
uses of crude oil:
-fuel (petrol, kerosene, diesel)
-heating buildings
-power stations
-raw materials for polymers
-a feedstock for the petrochemical industry
feedstock
a raw material used to provide reactants for an industrial reaction
non-renewable
being used up faster than it can be replaced
what is methane made from?
natural gas
fractional distillation
separates a liquid mixture into its individual components
how does fractional distillation work with crude oil?
- crude oil is pumped into the furnace
- the furnace is very hot, therefore the crude oil is heated up and evaporates
- the crude oil vapour moves from the furnace into the fractioning column
- the fractioning column is hot at the bottom and cool at the top
- the different vapours of hydrocarbons rise up the fractioning column & condense when it is cool enough
- at this point, they are collected as liquids
different levels of the fractioning column
- top: gases (25 degrees)
-fuel for domestic heating & cooking - petrol
-fuel for cars - kerosene
-fuel for aircraft’s - diesel oil
-fuel for some cars & trains - fuel oil
-fuel for ships & power stations - bottom: bitumen (350 degrees)
-for roads and roofs
how properties change up and down the fractioning column
top:
-small molecules
-low boiling point
-flows easily (low viscosity)
-ignites easily
bottom:
-large molecules
-high boiling point
-high viscosity
-doesn’t ignite easily
hydrocarbons with larger molecules have _____ boiling points
higher
what are fuels from crude oil or natural gas called?
fossil fuels
mnemonic for fractions
good (gas)
penguins (petrol)
keep (kerosene)
diving (diesel)
for (fuel oil)
bass (bitumen)
alkanes
-each crude oil fraction contains a mixture of hydrocarbons
-the hydrocarbons in a fraction are mostly hydrocarbons called alkanes
-an alkane is a saturated hydrocarbon containing only single covalent bonds
- homologous series
homologous series
organic compounds that have the same functional group and similar chemical properties
alkane formula
CnH2n+2
(where n stands for the number of carbon atoms)
properties of alkanes
-hydrocarbons
-can be gotten from crude oil
-single covalent bonds (saturated)
-in chains
-common formula
similarities of alkanes
-boiling points
-ease of ignition
-viscosity
why does boiling point increase as the number of carbon atoms increases:
-the intermolecular forces between alkane molecules become stronger, more energy is needed to overcome these forces, the boiling point increases
alkanes as a homologous series
-same general formula
-gradual variation in physical
properties
-have similar chemical properties
-differ by CH2 in the molecular formula of neighbouring compound
how prefixes correlate to amounts of carbon
meth = 1
eth = 2
prop = 3
but = 4
pent = 5
hex = 6
hept = 7
oct = 8
non = 9
dec = 10
combustion of hydrocarbon fuels
hydrocarbonfuels can undergo complete combustion or incomplete combustion, depending on the amount of oxygen available
complete combustion of hydrocarbons
-happens when there is a good supply of air
-carbon and hydrogen atoms in the fuel react with oxygen in an exothermic reaction
-maximum energy given out
(hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water)
incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels
-happens when the supply of air or oxygen is poor
-water is still produced, but carbon monoxide and carbon are also produced
-less energy is released than during complete combustion
(hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon monoxide + carbon + water)
soot description (combustion of hydrocarbons)
carbon is released as fine black particles