Fuels

• What is the scientific definition of a fuel?

  A fuel is a substance that gives out energy when burned
• What are raw materials?

  Raw materials are naturally occurring substances that can be made into other products
• What is the definition of combustion?

  Combustion is when a substance reacts with oxygen
• The combustion of methane:

  Methane + oxygen ---> ?

  Carbon dioxide + Water
• The combustion of ethanol:

  Ethanol + oxygen ---> ?

  Carbon dioxide + water
• What is required to start a fire? (Hint: Fire triangle)

  Oxygen

  Heat

  Fuel
• What is a hydrocarbon?

  A compound containing hydrogen and carbon only
• What gas makes up most of our air?

  Nitrogen (78%)
• What type of combustion would it be if the results of hydrocarbon + oxygen

  ---> carbon dioxide + water?

  Complete combustion
• What type of combustion would it be if the results of hydrocarbon + oxygen ---> carbon monoxide oxide + water or

  hydrocarbon + oxygen

  ---> carbon (soot) + water?

  Incomplete combustion
• What percentage of our air is made up of oxygen?

  21%
• How would complete combustion occur?

  When there is a plentiful supply of oxygen
• How would incomplete combustion occur?

  When there is a limited supply of oxygen
• What are the three types of fossil fuels?

  Coal

  Oil

  Gas
• How is coal formed?

  Coal is formed over hundreds of millions of years from decaying remains of plants and trees that have slowly been buried underground. Heat, pressure and bacteria converts them into coal
• Three methods of extracting fossil fuels

  Mining (Coal)

  Drilling (Oil)

  Hydraulic fracturing (Oil and Natural Gases)
• When a substance burns in pure oxygen it burns more brightly and more quickly than it does in air.

  • Because the oxygen in the air is only 21% , but pure oxygen is 100%
  • Therefore, there is a higher concentration in pure oxygen that the oxygen in the air.
  • Higher concentration = faster reaction
• What is the test for oxygen?

  Relights a glowing splint
• What is the test for carbon dioxide?

  Turns limewater cloudy
• What is the definition of viscosity?

  The ability of a liquid to flow.

  Low viscosity liquids = water or alcohol (flows easily)

  High viscosity liquids = treacle, honey, tar (doesn't flow easily)
• Fractional Distillation:

  Crude oil is refined by separating it into fractions. A fraction is hydrocarbons with similar boiling points. The diagram below shows the process of fractional distillation

  
• What are the four properties of fractions?

  Appearance

  Viscosity

  Flammability

  Ease of Evaporation
• What is the first fraction in the fractional distillation process?

  Refinery Gas
• What is the second fraction in the fractional distillation process?

  Gasoline (Petrol)
• What is the third fraction in the fractional distillation process?


  Naphtha
• What is the fourth fraction in the fractional distillation process?


  Kerosene
• What is the fifth fraction in the fractional distillation process?


  Diesel Oil
• What is the sixth fraction in the fractional distillation process?

  Fuel Oil
• What is the seventh fraction in the fractional distillation process?


  Residue
• True or false:

  As we go down the fractional distillation levels, the products become easier to ignite

  False: They become more difficult to ignite
• True or false:

  As we go down the fractional distillation levels, the products become thicker and darker in colour

  True
• What can refinery gases be used to create?

  Bottled gases
• What can gasoline (petrol) be used to create?

  Fuel for cars
• What can naphtha be used for?

  Creating chemicals
• What can kerosene be used to create?

  Aircraft fuel
• What can diesel oil be used to create?

  Fuel for large vehicles (certain cars, vans, lorries, trains, buses)
• What can fuel oil be used to create?

  Fuel for ships and power stations
• What can residue be used to create?

  Bitumen for roads and roofs