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Fuels and Earth science

Edexcel GCSE ChemistryTopic 8 of 926 lessons

Revision notes for Fuels and Earth science in Edexcel Chemistry (1CH0). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.

  1. HydrocarbonsMany fuels are made of compounds called hydrocarbons.
  2. Crude oilCrude oil is a complex mixture of many different hydrocarbons.
  3. Fractional distillation of crude oilCrude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons with different boiling points, so it can be separated into simpler, more useful mixtures by fractional…
  4. Fractions of crude oil and their usesThe fractions from crude oil each have their own name and use.
  5. Differences between the fractionsThe hydrocarbons in the different fractions differ from each other because their molecules are different sizes.
  6. Homologous seriesA homologous series is a family of compounds with the same general formula.
  7. Complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuelsA hydrocarbon is a compound made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
  8. Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbonsIf the supply of oxygen is limited, a hydrocarbon undergoes incomplete combustion.
  9. Carbon monoxide as a toxic gasCarbon monoxide, CO, is a toxic gas made by the incomplete combustion of fuels in faulty boilers, gas fires, cookers and car engines.
  10. Problems from carbon monoxide and soot in appliancesGas boilers, gas fires, cookers, water heaters and engines all burn carbon compounds such as natural gas, oil, wood or petrol.
  11. Sulfur dioxide from impurities in fuelsHydrocarbons contain only hydrogen and carbon, but fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil often contain impurities.
  12. Sulfur dioxide and acid rainSulfur dioxide released by burning fuels rises into the atmosphere.
  13. Oxides of nitrogen from enginesAir is about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.
  14. Hydrogen compared with petrol as a car fuelHydrogen can be burned as a fuel in cars in place of petrol.
  15. Crude oil and natural gas as fuelsPetrol, kerosene and diesel oil are fuels that we get from crude oil, which is separated into fractions by fractional distillation.
  16. Cracking large hydrocarbonsCracking breaks large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful ones.
  17. Why cracking is necessaryFractional distillation of crude oil gives fractions in fixed amounts, but these do not match what people need.
  18. The Earth's early atmosphereThe Earth is about 4.6 billion years old.
  19. The Earth's early atmosphereThe Earth is about 4.6 billion years old.
  20. How the oceans formedWhen the Earth was young it was very hot, so the water released by volcanoes stayed in the atmosphere as water vapour, which is a gas.
  21. Carbon dioxide and the oceansThe early atmosphere contained a large amount of carbon dioxide.
  22. Plants and oxygenAbout 2.7 billion years ago, primitive plants and algae began to grow in the oceans.
  23. The test for oxygenOxygen is a colourless gas with no smell, so you cannot identify it by looking at it.
  24. The greenhouse effectThe Sun warms the Earth, and the warm surface radiates heat back towards space as infrared radiation.
  25. Evidence for human activity causing climate changeScientists measure three things over time: the amount of fossil fuel people burn, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the…
  26. The atmosphere today and its effect on climateToday's atmosphere is about four-fifths (about 78%) nitrogen and about one-fifth (about 21%) oxygen.

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