Karen Mae L.

Fernan BS Chemistry 3 Homework 6A

February 01, 2013

1. Assume that diesel fuel is C14H30 and that gasoline is octane. a. Calculate the amount of energy (heat) in kcal - each releases per gram when combusted. b. Compare each as fuel for trucks. c. Why do so many large trucks have diesel engines? Gasoline: C8H18 C8H18 (l) + O2 (g) 8CO2 (g) + 9H2O (g) Standard Bond energies: H-C 99 kcal/mol C-C 83 kcal/mol O=O 119 kcal/mol C=O 192 kcal/mol H-O 111 kcal/mol Heat= [16(192)+18(111)] [50(119)+18(99)+14(83)] = 5,070 kcal/mol 8,894 kcal/mol = -3,824 kcal/mol = -33.47 kcal/g C8H18
Diesel: C14H30

C14H30 (l) + O2 (g) 14CO2 (g) + 15H2O (g) Heat= [28(192)+30(111)] [43(119)+14(99)+26(83)] = 8,706 kcal/mol 8,661 kcal/mol = 45 kcal/mol = 0.3938 kcal/g C14H30 Diesel and gasoline are two main sources of energy for todays cars. Both are from the same source, crude oil but are refined differently. These sources also have different chemical properties and each are burned in different ways. Diesel is easier to refine than gasoline, contains more energy than gasoline and the vehicles engine combustion process is more efficient. Diesel is denser and contains 11% more energy. It is more efficient in converting mechanical work because it operates at higher compression ratios and temperatures. Large trucks and agricultural vehicles have diesel engines to take advantage of this higher efficiency. Vehicles that use gasoline have to use spark plugs in order to ignite the fuel, which is due to the fact that gasoline engines have low compression ratio. The gasoline and air are combined and forced into the cylinder and compressed. The soark plug fires causing the mixture to ignite and explode, forcing the piston up and gives the car power. Diesel engines have much higher compressio ratios and does not anymore utilize spark plugs. When gases are

compressed, their temperature will increase and the heat produced by the compression is enough to ignite the fuel and air mixture. Of the two fuels, diesel get better mileage than gasoline. Traditionally, diesel motors are slower revving and produce their power low in rev range, wheras gasoline motors are higher reving and produce their power in the higher rev range. Trucks, trains and large 4WDs use diesels since they are slow revving. 2. As it is now used, what is the principle or basis for the production of energy from uranium by nuclear fission? a. What are some of its environmental disadvantages? b. What is one major advantage? Nuclear energy can be produced by either of two types of reactions, fission or fusion. Most power plants, including Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), use heat to produce electricity. Instead of burning of fossil fuels, they produce heat through nuclear fuel or fission. The atoms are split, causing energy to be released. The main material used to generate electricity from nuclear power is uranium. Uranium is a common element. While there are several varieties of uranium, uranium-235 (U-235) is the one mostly utilized. The decay of a single U-235 atom releases approximately 200 MeV. A pound of highly enriched uranium could be equal to about a milllion gallons of gasoline. Nuclear fuel must contain sufficient amount of fissile material to initiate the chain reaction. During a nuclear reaction, elements or isotopes are converted from one form to another. This includes protons, neutrons and electrons. Reactions are accompanied by absorption or release of energy. The rates of reaction are normally not affected by temperature, pressure or catalysts. Fission occurs when a free neutron enters the nucleus of the fissile atom. The nucleus quickly becomes unsatble, vibrates and then splits into fragments that are propelled apart at high speed. These neutrons go on to hit other uranium atoms , and the process is repeated, thus giving rise to a chain reaction (figure 1).

http://www.snetp.eu/www/snetp/images/stories/Docs-Factsheet/factsheet_1.pdf

The advantage of of Nuclear Power is that it doesnt depend on fossil fuels and is not affected by the erratic oil and gas prices. Coal and natural gas in other power plants emit carbon dioxide, whereas nuclear power plants emit minimal carbon dioxide. Nuclear fission produces a million times more energy per unit weight than fossil fuel alternatives. There are also many negatives that can be seen. The mining and purifying of uranium isnt a clean process also including the transport of nuclear fuel to and from plants. The used fuel is radioactive and potentially deadly. A nuclear power plant generates 20 metric tons of used nuclear fuel and is classified as high-level radioactive nuclear waste. It will evetually corrode any container that holds it and can be lethal to nearby life forms. The wastes have to be monitored. The results when nuclear power plants malfunction may be catastrophic. One example is the Chernobyl disaster and the recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The Chernobyl disaster caused thousands to die from cancer and other illesses. Nuclear power plants are good but it is very risky. References: Standard Bond Enthalpies. http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/OrgPage/bndenrgy.htm (Date accessed: January 31, 2013) WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIESEL AND PETROL? http://www.acea.be/news/news_detail/what_are_the_main_differences_between_die sel_and_petrol/ (Date accessed: January 31, 2013) The Encyclopedia of Earth. Comparing Diesel to Gasoline. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Comparing_Diesel_to_Gasoline?topic=54483 (Date accessed: January 31, 2013) How Nuclear Power Works. http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power5.htm (Date accessed: January 31, 2013) Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform. Nuclear Energy Factsheets. What is nuclear fission? http://www.snetp.eu/www/snetp/images/stories/DocsFactsheet/factsheet_1.pdf (Date accessed: January 31, 2013)