KS4 Chemistry Fuels Keyword Definition

Boiling point
As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, boiling
(temperature at which liquid
point increases. A finite resource. Consisting mainly of plankton
boils) Crude oil
that was buried in the mud, crude oil is the remains
of ancient biomass.
Viscosity As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, viscosity
(how easily it flows) increases.

Flammability As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, These make up the majority of the compounds in
(how easily it burns) flammability decreases. Hydrocarbons crude oil These compounds are made up of
hydrogen and carbon only.

Display formula for first four alkanes

General formula for CnH2n+2 for example: C2H6 or C6H14

alkanes

Methane (CH4) Ethane (C2H6) Propane (C3H8) Butane (C4H10)

The breaking down of long chain hydrocarbons into

Complete combustion of methane: smaller, more useful chains. The smaller chains are
Advantages: Cracking more useful. Cracking can be done by various
Hydrogen reacts
- Water is the product Methane + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water + energy methods including catalytic cracking and steam
- No greenhouse gases released
Hydrogen fuel
with oxygen in the - Renewable
CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g)  CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (l) cracking.
engine to power
Disadvantages:
the vehicle - Expensive to buy
- Difficult to re-fuel Combustion
The hydrocarbons in crude oil can be split into
Fossil fuels
Crude oil, natural Petrol, kerosene and diesel oil are non-renewable. Methane is During the complete combustion of hydrocarbons, the carbon fractions. Each fraction contains molecules with a
gas and coal found in natural gas and is also non-renewable. Fractions
and hydrogen in the fuels are oxidised, releasing carbon similar number of carbon atoms in them. The
Released from dioxide, water and energy. process used to do this is called fractional
burning Sulfur dioxide dissolves in rain water to form acid rain. This distillation.
Sulfur dioxide hydrocarbons with damages plant life and can make water habitats acidic. Acid rain
sulfur impurities can also erode limestone and sandstone structures.
in
Fractions can be processed to produce fuels and
Oxygen and feedstock for petrochemical industry. We depend on
nitrogen react As pollutants, oxides of nitrogen can damage the ozone layer and
combustion
Incomplete

Oxides of
under high are also classified as greenhouse gases. Can cause respiratory During the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, there is many of these fuels; petrol, diesel and kerosene.
nitrogen Using fractions Many useful materials are made by the
temperatures to problems. not enough oxygen available for complete combustion. The
form these
products of the reaction is carbon monoxide, carbon and petrochemical industry; solvents, lubricants and
water. polymers.
Carbon monoxide
Incomplete Soot (carbon) is also produced that builds up in the atmosphere and
is an odourless,
combustion can cause global dimming. This reduces the amount of sunlight
toxic gas that can
issues that reaches the Earth and can alter rainfall patterns.
kill
Use your knowledge organiser to fill in the missing gaps.

Boiling point As the hydrocarbon chain length …………., boiling point

(temperature at which liquid boils) ……………………..

Viscosity As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, viscosity

(………………………………………) ……………………….

Flammability As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, flammability

(how easily it ……………) ………………………..
Use your knowledge organiser to fill in the missing gaps.

Boiling point
As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, boiling point increases.
(temperature at which liquid boils)

Viscosity
As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, viscosity increases.
(how easily it flows)

Flammability
As the hydrocarbon chain length increases, flammability decreases.
(how easily it burns)