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Chemistry 3/4 > Carbon Based Fuels > Flashcards

Carbon Based Fuels Flashcards

(71 cards)

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1
Q

What is a fuel?

A

Releases energy in combustion reactions with oxygen due to high carbon content.
Stores chemical energy that’s released as heat energy.

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2
Q

How is energy measured?

A

SI unit Joules (J)

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3
Q

What factor determines the amount of energy produced by a fuel?

A

The type of fuel combusted.

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4
Q

What are fossil fuels?

A

Derived from fossils remains of living organisms (plants/animals)

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5
Q

Where are fossil fuels found?

A

In the earth’s crust

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6
Q

How are fossil fuels formed?

A

Decompositions under anaerobic, intense heat and pressure conditions that alter chemical structure over millions of years.

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7
Q

Why can fossil fuels be used as a fuel?

A

Contain high amount of carbon and hydrogen for release of energy.
Prime global energy source

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8
Q

Define “non-renewable”

A

Cannot be replaced at the same rate via natural processes as they are consumed.

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9
Q

What is coal?

A
  • most abundant fossil fuel
  • mined in the ground
  • combusted for electricity
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10
Q

What material is coal made from?

A

Wood and plant material

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11
Q

How is coal formed?

A

Carbon increases and oxygen/hydrogen decreases as the material decomposes.
AKA amount of H20

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12
Q

What are the factors determining energy potential of coal?

A

The longer coal is left and decomposes, the greater proportion of carbon thus greater energy potential.

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13
Q

What is the difference between black and brown coal?

A

Black coal has a higher energy potential because it has a higher carbon percentage than brown coal.

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14
Q

What compounds is in Natural Gas?

A

Methane (90%) Ethane, Propane, CO2 and Nitrogen

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15
Q

Where is Coal Seam Gas found?

A

Deposits of the earth’s crusts
- gas reservoirs between layers of rocks

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16
Q

How is Coal Seam Gas extracted?

A

Drilling and fracking
- Harmful impact on the environment

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17
Q

What is Fracking?

A

Inject liquid at high pressure into the coal to force open fissures.

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18
Q

How is coal seam gas formed?

A

Through remains of plants and animals

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19
Q

What is Crude Oil?

A

Viscous and black mixture of hydrocarbons (mostly alkanes)
- cannot be used in natural form

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20
Q

What are Crude Oil sources like in Australia?

A

Likely to be exhausted by the end of the century

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21
Q

What is fractional distillation?

A

Separates crude oils into different fuels on the basis of boiling points

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22
Q

What is petrol?

A

Mixture of hydrocarbons, predominantly Octane

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23
Q

What are the environmental constraints of these non-renewable sources?

A
  • drilling and mining disrupt natural landscape and water table if oil spills occur.
  • fuel combustion produces CO2 contributing to greenhouse gas effect
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24
Q

What is a concern regarding coal and crude oil?

A

Often contaminated with sulfur and nitrogen compounds
- can cause acid rain through SO2 (pH less than 4.5)
- damaging impact

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25
What does renewable mean?
capable of being replaced in a relatively short period of time via natural processes
26
What are biofuels?
Derived from organic matter Renewable Smaller environmental impact
27
What organic matter are Biofuels derived from?
- sugar cane - soya beans - wheat - vegetable oils
28
What is the reaction of Biofuels?
Still undergo combustion and produce CO2
29
What is Bioethanol?
- main biofuel Produced via anaerobic fermentation of glucose in organic matter by yeast
30
What is E10?
Blend of 10% bioethanol and 90% petrol
31
What is the chemical formula for the fermentation of glucose?
32
What is the name of this fuel?
Bioethanol
33
What type of reaction is the fermentation of glucose?
Exothermic
34
What is an exothermic reaction?
Produces energy
35
What is required following the fermentation of glucose to produce bioethanol?
- ethanol in a solution - distillation required to remove water and produce pure ethanol - pH and temp carefully controlled - temp below 78 degrees
36
What is the chemical equation for the distillation of ethanol?
37
What are examples of sources of glucose?
- sugarcane - soya beans - corn
38
What is Biogas?
- organic matter decays in an anaerobic environment - generated through action of microorganisms (bacteria) on organic molecules - has collected and used for fuel
39
Where can biogas be sourced?
Compost bins, piggeries
40
What is the chemical composition of biogas?
50-85% Methane and 20 - 25% Carbon Dioxide
41
How is biodiesel produced?
- reaction between vegetable oil/animal fats and small alcohol molecule - methyl esters
42
What is the reaction that produces biodiesel?
Transesterification - produced from methanol and long chain fatty acids ( carboxylic acids) - no. of C atoms and type of C and C bond in fatty acids vary
43
What are animal fats and plants made from?
- compounds called triglycerides - eg. canola
44
Draw the chemical structure of a methyl ester
45
What does the transesterification process involve?
Triglycerides + alcohol + catalyst (KOH) to produce 3 molecules of biodiesel (methyl ester) and glycerol
46
Draw the Chemical Structure of a transesterification reaction
47
Combustion of biofuels in terms of Carbon output
Carbon neutral as CO2 absorbed by plants during photosynthesis is equal to CO2 released - must however consider transport and harvest machinery
48
Environmental and sustainability considerations
- land/water supplies limited in some countries and biofuel production should not reduce availability of food/water - to decrease greenhouse gas emissions immense land for growing needed
49
Why is food essential?
Essential for survival, provides nutrients for energy, growth and repair/regulation of body processes.
50
What is the purpose of food metabolism?
Gives us molecules critical for biological functioning and energy for all reactions to survive.
51
Where is energy stored in food?
Stored in the chemical bonds
52
What is energy content?
Energy typically available for the body to use resulting from digestion and absorption of fuels.
53
What factors influence energy content values?
- specific composition of food - metabolic factors
54
What is glucose?
Simple carbohydrate and primary source of energy
55
How is glucose produced?
Via photosynthesis by plants
56
How does glucose release energy?
Reacts in cells through cellular respiration to release energy?
57
Is photosynthesis an endothermic or exothermic process?
Endothermic
58
What is photosynthesis?
Plants, algae and bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of organic compounds.
59
What is the chemical equation for photosynthesis?
60
How is sunlight absorbed in a photosynthesis reaction?
Sunlight absorbed by green pigment "chlorophyll"
61
What are the conditions for photosynthesis to occur?
Heat
62
Is cellular respiration an exothermic or endothermic reaction?
Exothermic
63
What is cellular respiration?
Process that occurs in all living things where organisms convert glucose into energy
64
What is the energy produced in cellular respiration used for?
Energy is for important cellular processes such as growth.
65
How does cellular respiration occur in animals?
Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells
66
Where is glucose obtained from in animals?
Carbohydrates in food are broken down through digestion to produce glucose.
67
What is the chemical equation for cellular respiration?
68
What is thermochemistry?
Study of heat changes in chemical reactions
69
What are chemical reactions?
Absorb and release energy generally in the form of heat.
70
What is chemical energy/enthalpy?
All substances contain chemical energy (energy in bonds)
71

Chemistry 3/4 (8 decks)

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