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Topic 6B Alkanes, taught by a specialist chemistry teacher.

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Lesson 3 of 4

Alternative Fuels

This virtual lesson explores alternative fuels, focusing on sustainable energy sources and their role in reducing environmental impact.

The lesson opens with the concept of carbon neutrality, explaining how fuels can be considered carbon neutral when the amount of carbon dioxide released during combustion is balanced by the amount absorbed during production.

The lesson then distinguishes between renewable fuels and non-renewable fuels, examining their sources, availability, and long-term sustainability, with evaluation of the advantages and limitations of each in the context of global energy demand.

Specific examples of alternative fuels are then covered, including alcohol fuels such as ethanol and hydrogen fuel, with discussion of their methods of production, combustion properties, and environmental implications compared to traditional fossil fuels.

This lesson develops an understanding of how chemistry contributes to the transition towards more sustainable energy solutions.

Next: Substitution Reactions of Alkanes

Specification points for Topic 6B

6.10understand that alkane fuels are obtained from the fractional distillation, cracking and reforming of crude oil
6.11know that pollutants, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon particulates and unburned hydrocarbons, are formed during the combustion of alkane fuels
6.12understand the problems arising from pollutants from the combustion of fuels, limited to the toxicity of carbon monoxide and the acidity of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur
6.13understand how the use of a catalytic converter solves some problems caused by pollutants
6.14understand the use of alternative fuels, including biodiesel and alcohols derived from renewable sources such as plants, in terms of a comparison with non-renewable fossil fuels
6.15know that a radical:i
6.16understand the reactions of alkanes with:i
6.17understand the limitations of the use of radical substitution reactions in the synthesis of organic molecules, in terms of further substitution reactions and the formation of a mixture of products
6.23understand that heterolytic bond fission of a covalent bond results in the formation of ions

Alternative Fuels

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