Topic 5 - Fuels Flashcards
How is crude oil extracted?
By drilling and pumping
How is crude oil formed?
It is formed from the remains of plants and animals which over millions of years with high temperature and pressure the remains turn into crude oil.
What are hydrocarbons
Something that only consists of hydrogen and carbon
How is crude oil separated into different fractions
Fractional distillation. The crude oil is piped in the bottom of the fractionating column. This is heated and the vaporised oil rises up the column on the various fractions are constantly tapped off at different levels where they condense
What compound is crude oil made of?
Mixture of Hydrocarbons
Are shorter or longer molecules more flammable
Shorter
Does the number of carbons increase or decrease as you go up the fractionating column
Decrease
What hydrocarbons are produced by fractionating column and what are their uses?
Gasses - used for cooking and heating
Petrol - fuel for cars
Kerosene - used as an aircraft fuel
Diesel - used as fuel for lorries, trains, and some cars
Fuel oil - fuel for ships and in some power stations
Bitumen - used to surface roads
Are shorter molecules less viscous or more viscous
Less viscous
Complete combustion only happens when ……?
There is plenty of oxygen
What is produced by complete combustion?
Carbon dioxide and water
What is oxidisation ?
When oxygen is added to an element
Incomplete combustion happens when….?
There isn’t enough oxygen
Is incomplete combustion safe?
No
What does incomplete combustion produce?
water and carbon monoxide
What colour flame is complete combustion?
Blue
What colour flame is incomplete combustion
Smoky yellow
Which type of combustion produces more energy
Complete combustion
What are the properties of carbon monoxide?
Colourless
Odourless
Very toxic
What is the symbol for carbon monoxide?
CO
What are the two main things that burn fossil fuels?
Power stations ( making electricity) Cars
What gas is put in the air by cars?
Sulphur impurities are in petrol and diesel so sulphur dioxide is put into the air.
What does sulphur dioxide cause?
Acid rain
What damage does acid rain do?
Acid rain cause lakes and rivers to become acidic which kills plants and animals.
It also damages limestone buildings and stone statues.
How does the earth control its temperature
The temperature of the earth is a balance between the heat from the sun and the heat it radiates back into space. Gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide water vapour and methane act like a layer of insulation and stop some of the radiating into space.