2U Chemistry: Energy Assignment 2013 1a).

Photosynthesis is the process which makes possible the creation of high energy sugar molecules using solar energy. The raw materials required are water and carbon dioxide. Photosyntheris is an endothermic reaction with the reaction with the energy provided by sunlight. The reaction is catalused by chlorophy which is a pigment found in the chlorplasts of plants. Sunlight+6CO2+6H2O----C6H12O+6O2 2b). Chemical energy is contained in the chemical bonds within the glucose molecule and ploymers of glucose such as cellulose and starch which can be used as food to provide of time. Like plants, humans and other animals also need glucose as an energy source. An important byproduct of photosynthesis is oxygen which is essential for breathing and hence the survival of all animals. 2c). Coal is a sedimentary rock formd from layers of plant material. This vegetable matter is the firect result of the photosynthesis reaction. Oil and natutal has are mixtures of a vast number of compounds mainly made up for hydrogen and carbon. They form from the partial decomposition of marine or aquatic plant and animals. 1d). Coal range from anthracite through bituminous coal to brown coal. Coal is composed primarily of carbon along woth variable quantities of other elements. Natural gas is mixture of methane, ethane, propane and butane and smaller amounts of other alkanes along with a small percentage of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and water vapour.

1e).

3a). Substances with weak intermolecualr forces such as alkances have a boiling point close to room temperature. Therefore their liquids are volatile and hence can turn into vapour very easier making it an explosive mixture. Therefore they has a low flashpoint and very dangerous as they can be ignited by a spark or a flame. However the bigger the alkane therefore the more numberof bonds and therfore higherboiliing point, lower volatility and higher flashpoint. 3b). Liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as kerosene should be shored in labelled, metal containers with narrow opening and close-fitting caps. These containers must be labelled with appropriate HazChem codes. These liquids have weak intermolecular forces which means they have low boiling point, therefore low flashpoint and high volatility. 3c). Since these hydrocarbons haveweak intermolecular forces and therefore low boiling point, low flashpoint and high volatility which means they can easily form an explosive mixture and hence they can explode with the contact of any tiny spark or flame. 4. Fossil Fuels which are composed from hydrocarbons is essential for our daily lives today. However they have advantages and disadvantage. Pollution from buring fossil fuels in motor vehicles, power stations, factories and homes is the main source of pollution in the world today. Carbon monoxide and soot is formed when incomplete combustion occurs. They can be minnimised by using excess air and using a catalyst in the exhaust of cars to convert any CO formed to carbon dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is a pungent gas which causes breathing difficulties at quite low concentration and nitrogen oxides causes respiratory difficulties and damages organ tissue. Fossil fuels have a greater negative impact on humans and the environment due to the products of carbon dioxide, carbon monxide, soot, sulfur fioxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulates and should be minimised by following procedures as listed above.