Energy option, contains C1 question

[70 marks]
1. 20N.3.sl.TZ0.9

Gasoline (petrol), biodiesel and ethanol are fuels.

[U.S. Department of Energy. https://afdc.energy.gov/]

(a) Calculate the energy released, in k J , from the complete combustion of 5.00 d m3 of ethanol.

[1]

(b) State a class of organic compounds found in gasoline.

[1]

(c) Outline the advantages and disadvantages of using biodiesel instead of gasoline as fuel for a
car. Exclude any discussion of cost.
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(d) A mixture of gasoline and ethanol is often used as a fuel. Suggest an advantage of such a
mixture over the use of pure gasoline. Exclude any discussion of cost.

[1]

(e) Contrast the molecular structures of biodiesel and the vegetable oil from which it is formed.

[2]

(f(i)) When combusted, all three fuels can release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as well as
particulates. Contrast how carbon dioxide and particulates interact with sunlight.
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(f(ii)) Methane is another greenhouse gas. Contrast the reasons why methane and carbon
dioxide are considered significant greenhouse gases.

[2]

(f(iii)) Suggest a wavenumber absorbed by methane gas.

[1]

2. 19N.3.sl.TZ0.11

Consider the following data for butane and pentane at STP.

(a) Discuss the data.

 [3]

(b) In a natural gas power station, 1.00 tonne of natural gas produces 2.41 × 104 MJ of
electricity.

Calculate the percentage efficiency of the power station.

1 tonne = 1000 kg
Specific energy of natural gas used = 55.4 MJ kg−1

[2]

3. 19M.3.sl.TZ1.11

Natural gas is an energy source composed mainly of methane.

(a) Calculate the specific energy of methane, in MJ kg−1, using sections 1, 6 and 13 of the data
booklet.

[1]

Natural gas is burned to produce steam which turns turbines in an electricity generating power
plant.

The efficiency of several sources for power plants is given below.

(b(i)) Calculate the maximum electric energy output, in MJ, which can be obtained from burning
1.00 kg of methane by using your answer from (a).

[1]

(b(ii)) Hydroelectric power plants produced 16 % of the world’s energy in 2015, down from 21 %
in 1971.

Suggest why hydroelectric power production has a higher efficiency than the other sources given
in (b) and why its relative use has decreased despite the high efficiency.

Reason for higher efficiency:

Reason for decreased use:

[2]
(c(i)) Methane can also be obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil.

Draw a circle on the diagram to show where the methane fraction is withdrawn.

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(c(ii)) List the following products, which are also obtained by fractional distillation, according to
decreasing volatility: asphalt, diesel, gasoline, lubricating motor oil.

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 (d(i)) Explain how methane absorbs infrared (IR) radiation by referring to its molecular geometry
and dipole moment.

[3]

(d(ii)) Compare methane’s atmospheric abundance and greenhouse effect to that of carbon
dioxide.

[1]

4. 19M.3.sl.TZ2.9

The regular rise and fall of sea levels, known as tides, can be used to generate energy.

State one advantage, other than limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and one disadvantage of
tidal power.

Advantage:

Disadvantage:

[2]
5. 19M.3.sl.TZ2.10

This question is about fuel for engines.

(a) Crude oil can be converted into fuels by fractional distillation and cracking.

Contrast these two processes.

[2]

(b) Determine the specific energy, in kJ g−1, and energy density, in kJ cm−3, of hexane, C6H14.
Give both answers to three significant figures.

Hexane: Mr = 86.2; ΔHc = −4163 kJ mol−1; density = 0.660 g cm−3

 Specific energy:

Energy density:

[2]

(c) Hydrocarbons need treatment to increase their octane number to prevent pre-ignition
(knocking) before they can be used in internal combustion engines.

Describe how this is carried out and the molecular changes that take place.

[2]

6. 18N.3.sl.TZ0.11

Solar energy, which is freely available, is indispensable to life on earth.

(a) Suggest another advantage and one disadvantage of solar energy.

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(b) Light can be absorbed by chlorophyll and other pigments.

Consider molecules A and B represented below.

Identify, with a reason, the molecule that absorbs visible light.

[1]

(c.i) State a physical property of vegetable oils that makes them very difficult to use as fuel in
internal combustion engines.

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(c.ii) Describe how vegetable oils can be converted to a more suitable fuel.

[1]

(d) Contrast the importance of carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases.

[2]

(e) Explain, using an equation, the effect of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on the
pH of lake water.

[2]
7. 18N.3.sl.TZ0.10

Coal can be converted to clean-burning synthetic natural gas.

(a) Formulate equation(s) for the conversion of coal and steam to methane.

[1]

Automobile companies use hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels. Some properties of fuels
are shown.

(b.i) Calculate the specific energy, in kJ g−1, of methane.

[1]
 (b.ii) Comment on the specific energies of hydrogen and methane.

[1]

(c) Calculate the mass, in kg, of carbon dioxide produced by the complete combustion of 72.0
dm3 octane, C8H18.

Density of C8H18 = 703 g dm−3

C8H18 (l) + 12.5O2 (g) → 8CO2 (g) + 9H2O (g)

[2]

8. 18M.3.sl.TZ1.10

The increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is thought to result from
the increased combustion of fossil fuels such as petroleum.

(a) Identify an element, other than carbon and hydrogen, found at significant concentrations in
fossil fuels.

[1]

(b) Petroleum contains many hydrocarbons. Explain how these are separated by fractional
distillation.
 [3]

(c.i) Determine the specific energy and energy density of petrol (gasoline), using data from
sections 1 and 13 of the data booklet. Assume petrol is pure octane, C8H18. Octane: molar
mass = 114.26 g mol−1, density = 0.703 g cm−3.

[2]

(c.ii) Outline why the energy available from an engine will be less than these theoretical values.

[1]

9. 18M.3.sl.TZ2.12

The process of converting heat to electricity is limited by its thermal (Carnot) efficiency.
 temp. of steam at source (K) − temp. heat sink (K)
Thermal efficiency= × 100
temp. of steam at source (K)
(a) Calculate the thermal efficiency of a steam turbine supplied with steam at 540°C and using a
river as the choice of sink at 23 °C.

[1]

(b) Power plants generating electricity by burning coal to boil water operate at approximately
35% efficiency.

State what this means and suggest why it is lower than the thermal efficiency.

[2]

10. 18M.3.sl.TZ2.10

Crude oil is a useful energy resource.

(a) Outline two reasons why oil is one of the world’s significant energy sources.

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 (b.i) Formulate an equation for the cracking of C16H34 into two products with eight carbon atoms
each.

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(b.ii) Identify, giving a reason, which product in (b)(i) could be used in petrol (gasoline).

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(c.i) Outline how higher octane fuels help eliminate “knocking” in engines.

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(c.ii) The performance of hydrocarbons as fuels can be improved by catalytic reforming.

Outline how catalytic reforming increases a fuel’s octane rating.

[1]

11. 17N.3.sl.TZ0.12

One method of comparing fuels is by considering their specific energies.

(a) Calculate the specific energy of octane, C8H18, in kJ kg–1 using sections 1, 6 and 13 of the
data booklet.

[2]

(b) A typical wood has a specific energy of 17 × 103 kJ kg–1. Comment on the usefulness
of octane and wood for powering a moving vehicle, using your answer to (a).

If you did not work out an answer for (a), use 45 × 103 kJ kg–1 but this is not the correct answer.

[1]

(c) State the name of one renewable source of energy other than wood.

[1]

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