C1.4 and C2.5 Chemistry (crude oil and combustion)

Exothermic reaction

A chemical reaction that generates heat energy. Combustion of a hydrocarbon is an example of an exothermic reactions.

Hydrocarbon

A compound containing carbon and hydrogen only

Hydrogen

Alternative clean fuel that is a gas which may be used to power fuel cells and some electric cars

Catalytic converter

Car catalytic converter converts harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide gas emissions to safer gases (carbon dioxide and nitrogen)

Incomplete combustion of methane

Combustion of methane gas with limited oxygen. Bunsen air vent closed. Products are carbon monoxide and carbon particulates (soot)

Complete combustion of methane

Combustion of methane gas with plentiful oxygen. Bunsen air vent open. Products are carbon dioxide and water

Global Warming

Harmful environmental effect caused by excessive carbon dioxide (usually from burning fossil fuels)

Global Dimming

Harmful environmental effect caused by excessive carbon particulates or soot (usually from burning fossil fuels)

Acid Rain

When fossil fuels (like coal and oil) burn they release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide gases. These gases appear in rain and cause acid rain.

Carbon footprint (carbon cost)

Making plastic bottles in the UK, using water mainly produced in the UK and recycling bottles in the UK can all help to reduce the carbon footprint as it reduces the amount of fossil fuel energy used to produce, burn, transport and recycle plastics

Fractional distillation of crude oil

Process that separates crude oil (a mixture) into different components because each component boils and condenses at a particular temperature. Small length hydrocarbon molecules, that have lower boiling points, condense at the top of the tower where it is cooler. Large length hydrocarbon molecules, that have higher boiling points, condense at the bottom of the tower where it is hotter.

Combustion experiment

Products of methane combustion can be tested: water inside the U-tube turns blue cobalt chloride paper pink; carbon dioxide gas turns limewater cloudy