Section 16 - Fuels and Earth Science

Question 1

Fuels - Name two applications of hydrocarbons

Answer 1

1) Fuels

2) Lubricants

Question 2

Fuels - How is crude oil formed?

Answer 2

Crude oil is formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms, such as plants, algae and bacteria

Question 3

Fuels - What is the purpose of fractional distillation?

Answer 3

Oil refining and purification

Question 4

Fuels - What is fuel oil used for?

Answer 4

• Steam boilers in power plants
• On ships
• In industrial plants

Question 5

Fuels - What is the definition of a homologous series?

Answer 5

Homologous series = a family of hydrocarbons with similar chemical properties who share the same general formula

Question 6

Fuels - Explain why long hydrocarbons have a higher boiling point

Answer 6

Longer hydrocarbons have stronger intermolecular forces and more energy is required to break these forces so they have higher boiling points

Question 7

Fuels - Give the word equation for the complete combustion of hydrocarbons

Answer 7

Fuel + O2 —> CO2 + H2O

Question 8

Fuels - Why does incomplete combustion occur?

Answer 8

Incomplete combustion generally occurs due to poor mixing of the air and fuel and insufficient temperature

Question 9

Fuels - Name a gas that contributes to the production of acid rain

Answer 9

• Sulfur dioxide

- Nitrogen oxides

Question 10

Fuels - What is cracking?

Answer 10

Cracking = a reaction in which larger hydrocarbon chains are broken down into smaller, more useful hydrocarbon molecules

Question 11

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - Name the gases given out by volcanoes millions of years ago

Answer 11

• Water vapour

- Nitrogen

Question 12

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - How was nitrogen gas originally put into the atmosphere?

Answer 12

It was initially trapped in the rubble that collided, forming the Earth

Question 13

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - What change in the early atmosphere allowed the complex organisms to evolve?

Answer 13

Photosynthesis that built up in the atmosphere led to oxygen that enabled animals and other organisms to evolve

Question 14

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - How could you test an unknown gas to see if it was oxygen?

Answer 14

If a glowing splint relights in the presence of the gas

Question 15

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - Outline how the greenhouse effect works

Answer 15

When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and some is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases

Question 16

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - How has human activity led to an increase in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere?

Answer 16

• Raising livestock
• Coal mining
• Waste disposal in landfills
• Gas and oil production

Question 17

The Atmosphere and Climate Change - What method have scientists used to predict past climates?

Answer 17

Record from physical, chemical and biological materials preserved within the Earth