Topic 8- fuels Flashcards
What are hydrocarbons
A compound that contains carbon and hydrogen only
Describe a crude oil- 5 points
A complex mixture of hydrocarbons
Containing molecules in which carbon atoms are in chains or rings
An important source of useful substances (fuels and feed stock for the petrochemical industry)
A finite resource
Non renewable
How do we separate crude oil
We separate crude oils into simpler more useful mixtures by the process of fractional distillation
List the fractions in fractional distillation, in order from top to bottom (lowest bp to highest bp)
Gases Petrol Kerosene Diesel oil Fuel oil Bitumen
Recall the names and uses of the fractions from top to bottom (lowest bp to highest bp)
Gases- domestic heating and cooking
Petrol- Fuel in cars
Kerosene- Fuel for aircraft
Diesel oil- fuel for some cars and trains
Fuel oil- fuel for large ships and in some power stations
Bitumen-used to surface roads and roofs
What is fractional distillation
A tall fractionating column is fitted above the mixture, with several condensers coming off at different heights. The column is hot at the bottom and cool at the top. Substances with high boiling points condense at the bottom and substances with lower boiling points condense on the way to the top.
List how hydrocarbons in different fractions differ from each other
The number of carbon and hydrogen atoms their molecules contain
boiling points
ease of ignition
viscosity
and are all mostly members of the alkAne homologous series.
Explain a homologous series as a series of compound which…
Have the same general formula
Differ by CH2 in molecular formula from neighboring compounds
Show a gradual variation in physical properties, as exemplified by their boiling points
Have similar chemical properties
Describe the complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels as a reaction in which…
Carbon dioxide and water are produced
Energy is given out
What is incomplete combustion
incomplete combustion occurs when the supply of air or oxygen is poor. Water is still produced, but carbon monoxide and carbon are produced instead of carbon dioxide.
Explain why the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons can produce carbon and carbon monoxide
Part of the carbon is not completely oxidised which therefore produces soot or carbon monoxide.
How does carbon monoxide behave as a toxic gas
When breathed in it displaces the oxygen in the blood, the bond between carbon monoxide and haemoglobin is so much stronger than the bond with oxygen. Oxygen is then unable to access vital organs and destroys cells.
Describe the problems caused by incomplete combustion producing carbon monoxide and soot in appliances that use
carbon compounds as fuels
It blocks pipes carrying waste gases from an appliance and blacken/ stain buildings- soot
What can impurities in some hydrocarbon fuels result in and why
Most hydrocarbon fuels burnt aren’t pure and therefore naturally contain some sulfur compounds (impurities). When the fuel burns, the sulfur it contains is oxidised to sulfur dioxide
How does sulfur dioxide cause acid rain and what are some problems associated with acid rain
Sulfur dioxide dissolves in water droplets in clouds, this makes the rain more acidic. Acid rain reacts with metals and rock such as limestone (corrodes them) Makes soil and water acidic which kills off wildlife.
Why, when fuels are burned in engines can oxygen and nitrogen react together at high temperatures
At high temperatures nitrogen and oxygen from the air combine to produce nitrogen monoxide and other oxides. Coal is made mainly from carbon, when this burns carbon dioxide is produced. When nitrogen monoxide is released the vehicles exhaust system combines it with oxygen in the air to form nitrogen dioxide. ????
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen, rather than petrol as a fuel in cars
Hydrogen doesn’t generate carbon dioxide when burnt
Hydrogen fuel cells are very efficient
HOWEVER
There are few filling stations that sell hydrogen
Hydrogen must be compresses and liquefies, then stored in tough insulated fuel tanks
Hydrogen fuel cells do not work at very low temperatures and they may require a platinum catalyst which is very expensive
List the non renewable fossil fuels obtained from crude oil and an example of a non renewable fossil fuel found in natural gas
petrol, kerosene and diesel oil are non-renewable
fossil fuels obtained from crude oil and methane is a nonrenewable
fossil fuel found in natural gas
What does Cracking involve
Breaking down a larger saturated hydrocarbon molecule ( alkAnes) into smaller, more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated (alkEnes)
Why is cracking necessary
To match supply with demand
What are the differences between alkAnes and alkEnes?
AlkAnes- Saturated, form a single bond C-C
AlkEnes- Unsaturated, form a double bond C=C
Whats the equation for complete combustion
Hydrocarbon+Oxygen–> Carbon Dioxide + Water
Whats the equation for incomplete combustion
Hydrocarbon+Oxygen—> Carbon monoxide+Carbon+Water
What’s the general formula for AlkAnes
CnH2n+2
What’s the general formula for alkEnes
CnH2n
What names are there for the number of Carbons.
Meth 1 Eth 2 Prop 3 But 4 Pent 5 Hex 6
In alkanes what does a longer chain mean
A higher boiling/melting point