Student Name: ____________________________________________________________

CHEMISTRY 2017
Unit 3
Key Topic Test 1 – Fuels

Recommended writing time*: 45 minutes

Total number of marks available: 50 marks

QUESTION BOOK

* The recommended writing time is a guide to the time students should take to complete this
test. Teachers may wish to alter this time and can do so at their own discretion.
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Conditions and restrictions

 Students are permitted to bring into the room for this test: pens, pencils, highlighters,
erasers, sharpeners and rulers. The Chemistry Data Book may be used.
 Students are NOT permitted to bring into the room for this test: blank sheets of paper
and/or white out liquid/tape.
 A scientific calculator is permitted in this test.

Materials supplied
 Question and answer book of 11 pages.

Instructions
 Print your name in the space provided on the top of the front page.
 All written responses must be in English.

Students are NOT permitted to bring mobile phones and/or any other unauthorised
electronic communication devices into the room for this test.
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SECTION A – Multiple-choice questions

Instructions for Section A

Answer all questions.
Choose the response that is correct for the question.
A correct answer scores 1, an incorrect answer scores 0.
Marks are not deducted for incorrect answers.
If more than one answer is completed for any question, no mark will be given.

Question 1
As coal ages in the ground, the
A. oxygen content will increase as the water content increases.
B. carbon content will increase, while the water content drops.
C. hydrogen content increases as the carbon content drops.
D. carbon and oxygen contents will both increase.

Question 2
Select the molecule that is unlikely to be used as a fuel.
A. methane
B. propane
C. propene
D. diesel

Question 3
Select the alternative that best summarises Australia’s fossil fuel reserves.
A. natural gas – medium, oil – low, coal - high
B. natural gas – high, oil – low, coal - low
C. natural gas – medium, oil – high, coal - high
D. natural gas – medium, oil – medium, coal - low

Question 4
Which alternative lists alkanes in the order they will condense in a fractionating column (highest
on the column to lowest)?
A. propane, hexane. octane, diesel
B. methane, diesel, hexane, octane
C. octane, hexane, butane, methane
D. methane, hexane, butane, octane

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Question 5
In a particular energy generator, the energy transformations occurring are

chemical potential  thermal  thermal of steam  mechanical  electrical

These energy transformations relate to the

A. generation of electricity in a small scale electricity generator
B. conversion of the sun’s energy to electrical energy
C. generation of electricity from biogas
D. generation of electricity from coal

Question 6
Which of the following is not a source of natural gas?
A. rotting food
B. coal
C. tallow
D. shale rock

Question 7
Select the alternative that correctly lists the fuels in order of energy per litre, from lowest to
highest,
A. biodiesel, petrol, propane, methane
B. ethanol, propane, petrol, petrodiesel
C. methane, petrol, petrodiesel, biodiesel
D. ethanol, petrol, petrodiesel, biodiesel

Question 8
Select the correct statement about the use of bioethanol as a fuel.
A. Bioethanol does not produce emissions as it is renewable
B. The use of bioethanol is completely carbon neutral
C. Bioethanol produces CO2 when burning but absorbs CO2 while it is forming
D. Bioethanol has a different structure to ethanol formed from crude oil

Question 9
Compared to petrodiesel, biodiesel
A. has a lower melting point, higher viscosity and lower water absorption
B. has a higher viscosity, a longer storage life and a lower affinity to water
C. fewer dipoles so a lower melting point and boiling point
D. has a higher melting point, higher viscosity and lower storage life

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Question 10
The molecule shown is a
O
H H H H H H H H H H H H

H C C C C C C C C C C C C C

H H H H H H H H H H H H
O

A. hydrocarbon
B. fatty acid
C. petrodiesel molecule
D. triglyceride

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SECTION B- Short-answer questions

Instructions for Section B

Questions must be answered in the spaces provided in this book.
To obtain full marks for your responses you should
 Give simplified answers with an appropriate number of significant figures to all
numerical questions; unsimplified answers will not be given full marks.
 Show all workings in your answers to numerical questions. No credit will be given for
an incorrect answer unless it is accompanied by details of the working.
Make sure chemical equations are balanced and that the formulas for individual substances
include an indication of state; for example, H2(g); NaCl(s)

Question 1
The molecule below is a molecule of biodiesel.
H H H H H H H H

O C C C C C C C C H
H H H H H
H H H H H H H
C C C C C C C

H H H H H H
O
H
C
H
H

a. i. Explain the degree of saturation of this molecule. (Is it saturated or other?)

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. Is this molecule likely to be of animal origin or plant origin?

__________________________________________________________________________
1 + 1 = 2 marks

H
b. This molecule was formed from the reaction between an alcohol and a fatty acid. Draw the
C H structure of both of these molecules.
H

2 marks

c. This fuel is considered to be a renewable fuel. What does the term renewable mean?

__________________________________________________________________________
1 mark

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d. This fuel will attract water more than petrodiesel molecules will. Explain why.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
2 marks

e.
i. In some alpine areas of Australia, the use of this fuel is not recommended. Provide
a likely explanation for this.

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. Biodiesel has less impact on the environment than petrodiesel. Give two reasons
why the impact is lower.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
1 + 2 = 3 marks
Total 10 marks

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Question 2
The gas-fired power plant shown is an example of a combined cycle gas turbine. The combustion
of natural gas is used in two ways to turn a turbine. Firstly, the expansion of hot gas can turn a
turbine and secondly the conversion of water to steam to turn the turbine.

a. List in order the energy transformations required to generate electricity from natural gas
though the production of steam.

__________________________________________________________________________
2 marks
b.
i. How does the efficiency of a plant like the one shown compare to the efficiency of a
coal-fired power station?

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. Compare and contrast the emissions from this plant with the emissions from a coal-
fired plant.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

iii. Gas-fired plants are often located away from the source of gas while coal-fired plants
are located beside the coal deposit. Explain why this difference occurs.

__________________________________________________________________________
1 + 2 + 1 = 4 marks

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c. Gas-fired plants are used in Victoria to help manage unexpected fluctuations in electricity
demand. Explain what this means.

__________________________________________________________________________
1 mark
Total 7 marks

Question 3
Bioethanol is blended into some petrol supplies and sold under the banner of E10, meaning the
ethanol content is about 10%.
a.
i. List two examples of sources of organic matter that are used commercially to produce
bioethanol.

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. Draw the structure of an ethanol molecule.

iii. Write a balanced equation for the production of ethanol from glucose.

__________________________________________________________________________
1 + 1 + 1 = 3 marks
b. Write a balanced equation for the combustion of ethanol.

__________________________________________________________________________
1 mark

c.
i. How does the energy content of ethanol compare to that of petrol?

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. How will the use of bioethanol in place of petrol impact upon the environment?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
1 + 2 = 3 marks
Total 7 marks

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Question 4
a. Suggest a potential source of biogas and explain how biogas is produced from this source.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
2 marks

b. List three major components of biogas and their typical proportions.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
2 marks

c. How is energy usually obtained from biogas?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
1 mark
Total 5 mark
Question 5
The diagram shown is a sketch of a piston in an internal combustion
engine such as a car uses.

a. LPG is an example of a fuel used in a car.

i. Where is our LPG sourced from in Australia?

____________________________________________

ii. What method is used to purify LPG? _____________________________________

iii. Name the two most likely components of LPG. _____________________________

1 + 1 + 1 = 3marks

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b.
i. When LPG enters the piston, what is it reacting with? ________________________

ii. Name 4 possible products of the reaction occurring.

____________________________________________________________________________
1 + 1 = 2 marks
Total 5 marks

Question 6
a. One possible method of extracting natural gas is through fracking.
i. How is fracking conducted?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

ii. What is the main environmental concern associated with fracking?

__________________________________________________________________________
2 + 1 = 3 marks

b. Victoria has large reserves of brown coal.

i. Write a balanced equation for the main energy producing reaction of brown coal.

___________________________________________________________________________
ii. Brown coal is often very wet. Explain carefully why the moisture content significantly
lowers the efficiency of brown coal.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
1 + 2 = 3 marks
Total 6 marks

END OF KEY TOPIC TEST

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