DF - Fuels Flashcards

1
Q

What are the products of complete combustion of organic compounds?

A

Carbon dioxide and water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Is the combustion of an alkane endothermic or exothermic?

A

Very exothermic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why do alkanes make great fuels?

A

Because the combustion of an alkane is very exothermic so releases a large amount of energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What can be used as fuels?

A

Alkanes, cycloalkanes, alkenes and alcohols.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 3 greenhouse gases?

A

Water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the earth naturally radiate out into space?

A

Infrared radiation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What absorbs some of the infrared radiation that the earth naturally radiates into space?

A

Greenhouse gases.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

When greenhouse gasses absorb some of the infrared radiation that the earth naturally radiates into space, keeping the earth warm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does burning carbon-based fuels cause?

A

An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the build-up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases called?

A

The ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’, or global warming.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect causing?

A

The earth to warm up slowly.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is the enhanced greenhouse effect a problem?

A

It is causing the earth to warm up slowly which is leading to the melting of the polar ice caps.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the products of incomplete combustion?

A

Carbon monoxide and water (and other things).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an oxidation reaction?

A

Burning something in oxygen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

When is carbon monoxide produced?

A

Due to the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels, mainly in car engines.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is carbon monoxide bad?

A

It is poisonous

It is colourless and odourless so is difficult to detect.

CO molecules are chemically and physically similar to oxygen molecules. This means they bind to the same sites on haemoglobin molecules in RBC as oxygen molecules. CO is better at binding to haemoglobin than oxygen so less oxygen can be carried around the body. This means if too much is breathed in, people can die from internal suffocation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 5 pollutants we need to know?

A

Carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide and particulates.

18
Q

When are oxides of nitrogen produced?

A

When the high pressure and temperature in a car engine cause the nitrogen and oxygen in the air to react together.

19
Q

When are unburnt hydrocarbons formed?

A

Because engines don’t burn all the fuel molecules.

20
Q

What do oxides of nitrogen and unburnt hydrocarbons cause?

A

React in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone which is a component of photochemical smog which can irritate eyes, aggravate respiratory problems and even cause lung damage.

Nitrogen oxides can also cause acid rain.

21
Q

When is sulfur dioxide formed?

A

When sulfur burns/when fossils fuels that contain sulfur are burning.

22
Q

What does sulfur dioxide cause?

A

Acid rain - this destroys trees and vegetation as well as corroding buildings and statues and killing fish in lakes.

23
Q

How is acid rain formed?

A

Burning fossil fuels that contain sulfur to make sulfur dioxide gas which then enters the atmosphere, dissolves in the moisture, and is converted into sulfuric acid.

24
Q

What are the consequences of acid rain?

A

Destroys trees and vegetation as well as corroding buildings and statues and killing fish in lakes.

25
Q

What are particulates?

A

Any tiny particles of liquid suspended in the air (such as acid droplets). They can be solid such as the ones produced by burning fossil fuels in vehicles and power stations.

26
Q

What do particulates cause?

A

Settle in people’s lungs and cause problems such as decreased lung function and irritation of the airways. They also contribute to cardiovascular problems (which can lead to heart attacks and strokes).

27
Q

How are solid particulates formed?

A

Burning fossil fuels in vehicles and power stations.

28
Q

Are fossil fuels renewable?

A

No they are non-renewable.

29
Q

What are the 3 fossil fuels?

A

Oil, coal and natural gas.

30
Q

What are the benefits of using fossil fuels?

A

Easily extracted and produce a large amount of energy.

31
Q

What will be the first fossil fuel to run out?

A

Oil.

32
Q

What will happen to oil as it gets really scarce?

A

It will become more expensive.

33
Q

Why are fossil fuels bad?

A

They aren’t sustainable and contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

34
Q

What are the biggest sources of air pollutants?

A

Transport, industry and power generation.

35
Q

How is sulfur dioxide removed from power station flue gases?

A

Using calcium oxide.

36
Q

What are flue gases?

A

The emissions from industrial exhausts and chimneys.

37
Q

How are particulates removed from power station flue gases?

A

Using wet scrubbers (which capture them in droplets).

38
Q

How are particulates removed from some car exhausts?

A

Using filters.

39
Q

What do catalytic converters do?

A

Reduce carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles.

40
Q

What is now added to petrol and why?

A

Oxygenates to reduce carbon monoxide emissions - helping the fuel combust fully.

41
Q

Why is our carbon dioxide emission level remaining pretty high still?

A

Because most of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels and the number of cars on the roads has steadily increased.

42
Q

What are some of the ways in which pollution could be reduced?

A

Governments can change laws to reduce pollution.

New vehicles are not allowed to pollute above a certain level, and the yearly MOT inspection includes an emissions test. Catalytic converters have been compulsory on new cars in the UK since 1992.

Governments can tax pollution more highly - raise taxes on fuel or on highly polluting engines.

People can reduce the amount of pollution they produce by changing their behaviour - make fewer car or plane journeys, car share more frequently etc.