In today’s lesson, please make notes on The uses of alkanes as fuels.

Use the questions

below as the basis for your notes and pages 118-119 in your textbook to help you.

All equations should be balanced symbol equations.

1. Write an equation to show the complete combustion of methane.

2. Write an equation to show the complete combustion of pentane, C5H12.
3. Explain what incomplete combustion is and identify the solid and toxic gas that may
be produced when alkanes burn in incomplete combustion.
4. Write an equation to show the incomplete combustion of methane to produce only
carbon and water.
5. Write an equation to show the incomplete combustion of propane to produce
carbon, carbon dioxide and water.
6. Write an equation to show the incomplete combustion of butane to produce only
carbon monoxide and water.
7. Write an equation to show the incomplete combustion of propane to produce
carbon, carbon dioxide and water.

Pollutants
1. Why are unburned hydrocarbons released when fuels burn?
2. Explain, with equations, how oxides of nitrogen and sulfur are formed. Why are they
harmful to the environment.
3. What is a catalytic converter?
4. Using equations, explain how it improves the exhaust gases produced by engines.