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GCSE Chemistry > Topic 8: Fuels and Earth Science > Flashcards

Topic 8: Fuels and Earth Science Flashcards

1
Q

What is crude oil?

A

A complex mixture of lots of different hydrocarbons (mostly alkenes)

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2
Q

Is crude oil a finite resource?

A

Yes

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3
Q

What are hydrocarbons?

A

Compounds that only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms

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4
Q

What happens as the length of the hydrocarbon chain increases?

A

Boiling point increases
Viscosity increases
Ease of ignition decreases

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5
Q

What is complete combustion?

A

A reaction that occurs when a fuel reacts with plenty of oxygen

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6
Q

What is the complete combustion reaction?

A

Hydrocarbon + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water

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7
Q

Why are hydrocarbons used as fuels?

A

When they combust, they release a lot of energy

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8
Q

What is a homologous series?

A

A family of molecules which have the same general formula and share similar chemical properties e.g. alkanes

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9
Q

What is fractional distillation?

A

A process used to separate the hydrocarbons in crude oil into fraction according to their boiling points
Each fraction has different uses

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10
Q

How does a fractionating column work?

A
  1. Crude oil is heated until most of it has evaporated
  2. Longer hydrocarbons have higher boiling points so condense near the bottom of the column
  3. Shorter hydrocarbons have lower boiling points so condense near the top of the column
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11
Q

What are the fractions of crude oil (starting with the fraction produced at the top of the column)?

A

Gases
Petrol
Kerosene
Diesel oiI
Fuel oil
Bitumen

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12
Q

What are gases used for?

A

Domestic heating
Cooking

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13
Q

What is petrol used for?

A

Car fuel

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14
Q

What is kerosene used for?

A

Aircraft fuel

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15
Q

What is diesel oil used for?

A

Fuels cars and trains

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16
Q

What is fuel oil used for?

A

Fuels ships and power stations

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17
Q

What is bitumen used for?

A

Surfacing roads and roofs

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18
Q

What fractions of crude are non renewable?

A

Petrol
Kerosene
Diesel oil

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19
Q

What is cracking?

A

Breaking down long chain, saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) into shorter, more useful molecules

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20
Q

Why is cracking done?

A

There is a higher demand for fuels with shorter carbon chains
Shorter hydrocarbons are more useful

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21
Q

What is the equation for cracking?

A

Long chain alkane —> shorter chain alkane + unsaturated alkene

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22
Q

How is cracking done?

A

Done by heating the alkane with an aluminium oxide catalyst

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23
Q

What do fossil fuels contain?

A

Hydrocarbons
Sulphur impurities

24
Q

What does combustion of fossil fuels release?

A

Gases and particles which pollute the air

25
Q

What are the products of incomplete combustion that pollute the air?

A

Carbon monoxide + Carbon (soot) + Carbon dioxide + Water vapour

26
Q

When does incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons occur?

A

When there isn’t enough oxygen for complete combustion to occur

27
Q

What is the effect of carbon monoxide?

A

Binds with the haemoglobin in the blood
This causes there to be a lack of oxygen being transported in the body
This can lead to fainting, coma or even death

28
Q

Properties of carbon monoxide?

A

Colourless
Scentless

29
Q

What is the effect of carbon (soot)?

A

Causes respiratory problems
Reduces air quality
Makes building looks dirty

30
Q

Where does sulfur dioxide come from?

A

From when sulfur impurities in fossil fuels react during combustion

31
Q

What effect does sulfur dioxide have?

A

Acid rain
This causes damage to trees, statues and buildings
Lakes also become acidic and plants and animals die

32
Q

Where do oxides of nitrogen come from?

A

Reactions between nitrogen and oxygen in the air which are caused by the heat of burning fuels e.g. in car engines

33
Q

What is the effect of oxides of nitrogen?

A

Acid rain
This causes damage to trees, statues and buildings
Lakes also become acidic and plants and animals die

BECAUSE OXIDES MIX WITH CLOUDS TO FORM ACIDS

34
Q

What are advantages of hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles?

A

Very clean - only waste product is water
Obtained from a renewable resource (water), so won’t run out
Can be obtained from the water produced by the cell when used in fuel cells

35
Q

What are disadvantages of hydrogen as a fuel for vehicles?

A

Need a special, expensive engine
Hard to store
Manufacturing hydrogen is expensive, often uses energy from fossil fuels

36
Q

What was the composition of the earths early atmosphere?

A

Lots of carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Very little oxygen
Some other gases

37
Q

Why was the earths early atmosphere like this?

A

Due to volcanic activity that released gases

38
Q

What happened after the earth cooled?

A

Water vapour condensed and formed oceans

39
Q

What did the formation of oceans lead to? Why?

A

Decrease in CO2 levels
Because CO2 gas dissolved in the oceans

40
Q

What happened after the oceans formed?

A

Green, primitive, photosynthesising plants and algae then developed

41
Q

What did the evolution of green plants lead to? Why?

A

Decreased CO2 levels
Increased O2 levels
This was due to photosynthesis as photosynthesis absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and produces oxygen

42
Q

What is the composition of today atmosphere (with the percentages)?

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
Less than 1% of carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases

43
Q

What is the test for oxygen?

A

Glowing splint test:

  1. Glowing split placed into a test tube
  2. If the splint relights, oxygen gas is present
44
Q

What are the 3 greenhouse gases?

A

Carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Methane

45
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

When greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb long wavelength radiation and re-radiate it in all directions, including back towards Earth, helping to keep the earth warm

46
Q

What do greenhouses: not absorb, absorb and re-radiate?

A

Don’t absorb: short wavelength radiation from the sun
Absorb: long wavelength radiation
Re-radiate: long wavelength radiation

47
Q

How has the increasing human population impacted global warming and climate change?

A

There’s more greenhouse gas emissions

48
Q

Why have greenhouse gas emissions increased?

A

Fossil fuels are being burnt for energy - more CO2 released
Deforestation - less CO2 removed by photosynthesis
Cattle farming - more methane produced

49
Q

What have increasing levels of greenhouse gases been linked to?

A

Global warming

50
Q

What is global warming?

A

A type of climate change that can cause other types of climate change

51
Q

What are the consequences of climate change?

A

Flooding due to melting of polar ice caps causing sea levels to rise
Changing rainfall patterns

52
Q

What has happened over the years due to greenhouse gases?

A

Temperature has increased

53
Q

What are the two ways of reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions?

A
  1. Individuals
  2. Governments
54
Q

How can individuals reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions?

A

Walking or cycling instead of driving
Turning down central heating
Eating less meat

55
Q

How can governments reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions?

A

Use legislation and financial incentives e.g. congestion charge
Fund research into new energy sources that are renewable and better for the environment

56
Q

How to remember the fractions of crude oil in order?

A

Green
Peas
Kill
Diamond
Fusions
Bitch

GCSE Chemistry (9 decks)

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