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Burning Carbon Fuels
Petrol companies have reduced the amount of sulfur in petrol and diesel fuels in order to reduce the acidity of rain.

Burning Carbon Fuels

Burning carbon fuels releases energy and forms new substances. This GCSE Chemistry quiz tests complete and incomplete combustion, balanced equations, and how pollutants affect air quality.

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(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

In incomplete combustion, there is not enough oxygen, so carbon monoxide (CO) and soot (carbon) can form. Incomplete combustion releases less energy from the fuel.

In GCSE Chemistry, combustion is a key example of an exothermic reaction. You practise writing and balancing symbol equations for fuels, compare products formed in different conditions, and link real-world emissions to health and environmental impacts.

Key Terms

  • Combustion: A reaction where a fuel reacts with oxygen and releases energy.
  • Hydrocarbon: A compound made only of hydrogen and carbon, such as methane or petrol components.
  • Pollutant: A substance released into the environment that can cause harm, such as gases or particles from burning fuels.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is complete combustion in GCSE Chemistry?

Complete combustion happens when a fuel reacts fully with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. For hydrocarbons, it produces the most energy and is shown by a balanced symbol equation.

How do you balance a combustion equation for a hydrocarbon?

Write the correct products as carbon dioxide and water, then balance carbon atoms, then hydrogen atoms, and finally oxygen atoms. Use whole-number coefficients to keep the equation balanced.

How can pollution from burning fuels be reduced?

Pollution can be reduced by using cleaner fuels, improving engine efficiency, and fitting catalytic converters to reduce harmful gases. Switching to renewable electricity also lowers emissions from energy production.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
What is a biofuel?
A fuel made from biological material
A fuel made from non-renewable resources
A fuel that can be used again and again
A fuel that can only be used in cars
These are renewable fuels
2 .
What environmental problem is caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere?
Global dimming
Acid rain
Depletion of the ozone layer
Global warming
The nitrogen oxides are formed where fossil fuels are burnt at high temperatures. The high temperature means that there is enough energy to get the normally unreactive nitrogen molecules in the air to react with the oxygen
3 .
Pick the fuel which will burn to form carbon dioxide only.
H2
CO
C4H10
C14H28
CO is carbon monoxide which is found in coal gas and town gas. These two types of gas were the only ones available in Britain until the discovery of the oil and gas deposits in the North Sea
4 .
Which of the following fuels is unlikely to contribute to the greenhouse effect when burnt?
H2
CO
C4H10
C14H28
Hydrogen burns to form water vapour
5 .

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using biofuels?

They are renewable
They take away growing land from food crops
They are carbon neutral
Can be made from biological waste
In some areas, biofuel crops are grown rather than food crops and this causes food shortages. Often they are grown in areas of the world where food is already in short supply
6 .
What environmental problem is caused by the release of carbon particulates into the atmosphere?
Global dimming
Acid rain
Depletion of the ozone layer
Global warming
The effects of global dimming may be reducing the effects of global warming. This may sound a good thing but in reality, it is not as it reduces the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the Earth and breathing in of carbon particulates is not good for your health
7 .
What environmental problem is caused by the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Global dimming
Acid rain
Depletion of the ozone layer
Global warming
The mechanism of global warming is the greenhouse effect
8 .
Pick the fuel which is an alkane.
H2
CO
C4H10
C14H28
The general formula of an alkane is CnH2n +2
9 .
Petrol companies have reduced the amount of sulfur in petrol and diesel fuels. The main reason for this is...
to reduce production costs
to reduce the amount of fuel used in vehicles
to reduce the acidity of rain
to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
Oxides of non-metals are all acidic; oxides of sulfur ultimately form sulfuric acid as they dissolve in rain
10 .
Sulfur dioxide can be removed from waste gases from power stations by treating with what?
Limewater
Limestone
Methane
Water
Limestone is mainly calcium carbonate and you should be aware that carbonates react with acid
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes

Author:  Kate Gardiner (Chemistry Educator & GCSE Quiz Writer)
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