Combustion and Pollution 1 - Energy in fuelsBy the end of this lesson you should be able to answer these questions:

What are fuels?Why do we use fuels?What is combustion?

What are fuels?

Fuels are substances that can be burned to release energy.

Activity 1:

Read through this story and circle all the fuels.

Peter and Jane were going camping. They set off in the car, stopping at the petrol station on the way. The sun was shining! When they got to the campsite, Jane put up the

tent and Peter lit the gas stove to make tea. They searched the nearby forest, collecting wood to build a fire. As it got dark they lit some wax candles and an oil lamp. The next day they took the train up into Eskdale. Some of the trains had diesel engines but theirs was a proper steam train powered by coal! After a fun afternoon they headed back to camp. On the way they stopped to buy some charcoal for a barbecue.

Activity 2:

Find 2 fuels that are used in your home and any vehicles that you use. For each one, say what the energy released is used for.

1. E.g. Fuel: coal in open fireplace Energy released is used to: heat the house2. Fuel: Energy released is used to:3. Fuel: Energy released is used to:

What is combustion?

Combustion is the scientific name for burning. Then substances burn, they react with oxygen.

For example:

methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + waterIn this reaction:

1) What is the fuel in this reaction?

2) What gas does the fuel react with?

3) Colour the reactants one colour and the products another.

Activity 4:

Which of these equations are combustion (burning) reactions:

propane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

iron + sulfur → iron sulfide

wax + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide → sodium chloride + water

hydrogen + oxygen → water

petrol + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

Q1.    Susie uses charcoal as the fuel for the barbecue.

(a)      Which statement is true about all fuels?Tick the correct box.

 

All fuels are sources of energy.   All fuels are black.  

All fuels are made from wood.   All fuels are solid.  

1 mark

(b)     Which gas in the air is needed for fuels to burn?Tick the correct box.

 

water vapour  oxygen  

nitrogen  carbon dioxide  

1 mark

(c)     What is the scientific word for burning? 

fuel  condensation  

combustion  reactants  

1 mark