HKDSE CHEMISTRY ⎯ A Modern View (Second Edition) Coursebook 2

(Reprinted with minor amendments 2019)

Chapter 20 Hydrocarbons from fossil fuels

Class practice
A20.1 (p.20-6)
1. Coal formed from the remains of plants that lived hundreds of millions years ago.
Petroleum formed from the remains of sea animals and plants that lived millions
years ago.
2. This is due to the movement of the Earth’s crust.

A20.2 (p.20-11)
(a) Fractional distillation
(b) A hydrocarbon with more carbon atoms in its molecules has a higher boiling
point.
(c) There is physical separation but no chemical decomposition.

A20.3 (p.20-13)
(a) (i) As fuel for aeroplanes and as domestic fuel
(ii) As fuel for heavy vehicles such as lorries and buses
(iii) As fuel for motor cars
(b) Diesel oil
(c) Diesel oil is mainly used as fuel for lorries and buses. As there are many lorries
and buses in the modern society, the supply of diesel oil cannot meet the demand.

A20.4 (p.20-14)
7
(a) C2H6 + O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O OR 2C2H6 + 7O2 → 4CO2 + 6H2O
2
(b) C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O

A20.5 (p.20-19)
1. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, unburnt hydrocarbons and suspended
particulates
2. Sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates
3. Complete combustion of octane:
25
C8H18 + O2 → 8CO2 + 9H2O OR 2C8H18 + 25O2 → 16CO2 + 18H2O
2
Incomplete combustion of octane:
17
C8H18 + O2 → 8CO + 9H2O OR 2C8H18 + 17O2 → 16CO + 18H2O
2

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HKDSE CHEMISTRY ⎯ A Modern View (Second Edition) Coursebook 2
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A20.6 (p.20-20)
(a) Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
(b) SO2(g) + H2O(l) H2SO3(aq)
4NO(g) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g) → 4HNO2(aq)
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) → HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)
4NO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g) → 4HNO3(aq)
(c) CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) → Ca2+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
(d) This is because the air in industrial areas has high concentrations of acidic
pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

A20.7 (p.20-26)
(a) (i) Respiration by living things
(ii) Photosynthesis by green plants
(b) (i) Methane/CFCs/nitrogen oxides/ozone (Any ONE)
(ii) Solar energy from the Sun reaches the Earth. About half of this energy is
absorbed by the Earth. The Earth re-radiates most of the absorbed energy
into the space as infrared radiation. However, greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere trap some of the radiation, preventing it from going back into
the space. As a result, the Earth gets warmer.
(c) Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation re-radiated from the Earth. This keeps
the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
(d) Average sea levels would rise, causing flooding in low-lying coastal areas. OR
Climate changes would cause damage to agriculture and reduce the world’s food
supply. OR Flooding and climate change would put wildlife in danger.

Think about
Think about (p.20-2)
1. Fossil fuels formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived hundreds of
millions years ago.
2. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and suspended particulates
3. The burning of coal produces a lot of air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides and suspended particulates. The burning of natural gas produces
carbon dioxide and water only.

Think about (p.20-19)

Generally speaking, carbon dioxide is not classified as an air pollutant. It seems to be
harmless. However, carbon dioxide causes global warming. In this respect, carbon
dioxide may be classified as an air pollutant.

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HKDSE CHEMISTRY ⎯ A Modern View (Second Edition) Coursebook 2
(Reprinted with minor amendments 2019)

Think about (p.20-23)

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. The average temperature of the Venus’s surface
would be higher than that of the Earth’s surface. (The average temperature of the
Venus’ surface is about 464C.)

Chapter exercise (p.20-40)

1. fossil; plants; animals
2. carbon; plants
3. hydrocarbons; sea
4. fractions; fractional distillation; refining
5. heavy; higher; hotter
6. Refinery gas LPG as domestic fuel, raw materials for manufacture of
chemicals
Petrol fuel for motor cars
Naphtha raw material for production of town gas
Kerosene fuel for aeroplanes, domestic fuel
Diesel oil fuel for heavy vehicles
Fuel oil fuel for ships, burnt to generate electricity in power plants
Lubricating oils making lubricating oils and candles
and waxes
Bitumen material for covering roads
7. darker; viscous; volatile; flammable; less
8. fuels; hydrocarbons
9. exothermic
10. carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides; unburnt hydrocarbons,
particulates
11. 5.6; sulphur dioxide; nitrogen oxides
12. infrared radiation, carbon dioxide
13. rise; global warming
14. unleaded, catalytic converter
15. low sulphur; scrubbers
16. electrostatic precipitator
17. B
Refer to p.4 of chapter 20 for details.

18. C
(2) is not a hydrocarbon because it contains oxygen apart from hydrogen and
carbon.

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HKDSE CHEMISTRY ⎯ A Modern View (Second Edition) Coursebook 2
(Reprinted with minor amendments 2019)

19. A
Fuel oil is commonly used as fuel for ships.

20. B
Refer to p.10 of chapter 20 for details.

21. C
A petroleum fraction with fewer carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon molecules
burns more easily.

22. C
Refer to p.14 of chapter 20 for details.

23. C

24. D

25. A
The combustion of natural gas (mainly methane) produces carbon dioxide and
water. Carbon dioxide and water vapour are both greenhouse gases.

26. A
(2): nitrogen dioxide in the exhaust can be removed by installing catalytic
converters in motor cars.
(3): sulphur dioxide in the waste gases can be removed by installing scrubbers or
flue gas desulphurization systems in power stations.

27. C
The combustion of natural gas produces carbon dioxide and water. Carbon
dioxide and water vapour are both greenhouse gases.

28. (a) Fractional distillation

(b) Fraction 4 contains hydrocarbons with larger molecular sizes while fraction
1 contains hydrocarbons with smaller molecular sizes. The van der Waals’
forces between larger molecules are stronger. Hence, a larger amount of
energy is needed to separate the hydrocarbon molecules in fraction 4 during
boiling.
(c) Fraction 4

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HKDSE CHEMISTRY ⎯ A Modern View (Second Edition) Coursebook 2
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(d) Fraction 1
(e) Fraction 1. This is because it is the easiest to burn and it burns with the least
sooty flame.

29. (a) Petroleum formed from sea animals and plants that lived hundreds of
millions years ago. As these organisms died, they sank to the bottom of the
seas and were covered by sand and mud. High temperature, pressure and the
action of bacteria slowly changed them into petroleum.
(b) Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
(c) (i) Diesel oil
(ii) The hydrocarbons in LPG have lower carbon content. Hence, LPG
burns more easily with a less sooty flame.
(iii) Owners of public light buses have to replace the diesel light buses with
LPG ones.

30. (a) Anhydrous copper(II) sulphate changes from white to blue as water is
produced from the combustion of candle.
(b) The limewater turns milky as carbon dioxide is produced from the
combustion of candle.
(c) (i) Carbon soot
(ii) Carbon soot is produced from the incomplete combustion of
hydrocarbons in the candle.

31. (a) This is due to the incomplete combustion of petrol.

(b) When the car runs, the temperature of the engine is very high. A little
nitrogen and oxygen in the air combine to form nitrogen monoxide.
N2(g) + O2(g) → 2NO(g)
(c) They cause the formation of acid rain/photochemical smog. (Any ONE)
(d) (i) Catalytic converter
Pt/Rh
(ii) 2CO(g) + 2NO(g) → 2CO2(g) + N2(g)
Pt/Rh
2CO(g) + O2(g) → 2CO2(g)
y Pt/Rh y
CxHy(g) + (x + )O2(g) → xCO2(g) + H2O(g)
4 2
(iii) This is because the catalyst is easily ‘poisoned’ by lead or lead
compounds.

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32. (a) S(s) + O2(g) → SO2(g)

(b) Mass of S in 100 kg of coal = (100 × 1000) g × 0.97% = 970 g
970
Number of moles of S burnt = mol = 30.2 mol
32.1
From the equation, mole ratio of S to SO2 is 1 : 1.
∴number of moles of SO2 produced = 30.2 mol
Mass of SO2 produced = 30.2 × (32.1 + 16.0 × 2) g = 1936 g
(c) It irritates our eyes and attacks our respiratory system, causing lung
diseases.
(d) Using fuels of low sulphur content OR
Installing scrubbers/flue gas desulphurization system in power plants

33. (a) The rapid increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
is due to deforestation/the burning of a large amount of fossil fuels in motor
cars/power plants/factories.
The rapid increase in the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is due
to an increase in the number of rice paddies and cattle farms over the world.
(b) (i) The Earth’s surface temperature increases.
(ii) Any ONE of the following:
Average sea levels would rise, causing flooding in low-lying coastal
areas. OR
Climate changes would cause damage to agriculture and reduce the
world’s food supply. OR
Flooding and climate change would put wildlife in danger.
(c) (i) Any ONE of the following:
Using alternative energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy OR
Stopping deforestation OR
Planting more trees OR
Preventing and putting out forest fires
(ii) Collecting methane from decaying plant remains and animal wastes
and using it as fuel

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