crude oil and its products

Crude Oil and its Products

Science Interactive LTD Copyright 2005

Understand: Keywords:1. How crude oil and other fossil fuels rich in

carbon were formed.2. That crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons. 3. That hydrocarbons contain only two elements:

hydrogen and carbon.4. That different hydrocarbons have different uses

and can be separated using fractional distillation.

5. That the alkane family of hydrocarbons are used mainly as fuels by transport vehicles.

6. The chemical properties of the alkanes and the alkenes.

7. The use of ethene and other alkenes in the formation of polymers and plastics.

8. The benefits and costs of using crude oil as fuels and as a starting material for the manufacture of plastics.

9. That the increases emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is causing the greenhouse effect.

10. The likely impact of the greenhouse effect.11. That there are many renewable alternative to

using crude oil as an energy source.

Crude Oil, Formation, Fossil, Fuel, Hydrocarbons, Hydrogen, Carbon, Fractional, Distillation, Alkanes, Alkenes, Cracking, Ethene, Polymers, Plastics, Polymerisation, Greenhouse, Global, Warming & Pollution.

Crude Oil and its ProductsCrude Oil and its Products

Oil and natural gas reservesOil and natural gas reservesUnderneath the bedrock of some countries of the World like Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Russia are billions of barrels of c_______ oil. When extracted using drilling rigs, it can be used as a fuel, and a raw material to manufacture plastics, paints and medicines. The biggest users of crude oil are the United States followed by Europeans. The country with the greatest reserves of crude oil is Saudi Arabia, who until the discovery of oil had a simple economy and little modern infrastructure. Look at the map and find other countries with large reserves ?

World reserves of crude oil:

World oil reserves Energy use in the modern World

Diagram

Notes World oil reserves are finite. It estimated that we currently have around 60 – 80 years of crude oil remaining. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Russia have the largest reserves with over 50 billions barrels of crude oil underground.

This composite picture of the world at night shows us the biggest energy users. North America, followed by Europe and Japan are the largest users or energy. These countries depend most on the ‘cheap energy’ that crude oil provides us.


Word bank: crude

Surface water

Oxygen free layer

Sedimentary rock

The formation of crude oil from the decayed remains of i________ and other organic material has taken place over the last 65 million years. Crude oil forms when organic matter is buried deep underground in an oxygen free environment. Over millions of years the carbon rich compounds from the bodies of dead organism are subjected to h_____ and pressure which changed them into hydrocarbons. Natural gas (mainly methane CH4), an important fossil fuel is also found trapped with crude oil under rock sediments. Why do we call crude oil a fossil fuel ?

Formation of crude oil:

Formation of crude oilFormation of crude oil

Waters rich with life Dead matter falls Oils layers form

Notes The warm seas over areas like Saudi Arabia of 65 million years ago were teeming with organisms rich in the element carbon.

When these animals died they sank to the sea bottom. Over time carbon rich sediments containing many carbon rich biological molecules formed.

Over many millions of years, heat and pressure over time changes these compounds into carbon rich hydrocarbons now known as crude oil.


Word bank: insects heat

Fossils fuels and crude oilFossils fuels and crude oilA fossil fuel is a substance like o____ or coal that is rich in the element c_______, can be combusted readily with oxygen and produces energy in the form of h____. They are fossil fuels because they are formed from once living organisms with solar energy being the original e_______ source. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource, because it takes millions of years for them to form and we currently combust them faster than they are formed ! Fossil fuels are also a finite energy resource, because they will eventually run out ! How will this change our way of living ?

Types of fossil fuels:

Crude oil Coal Peat

Diagram

Source Remains of dead insects and other organic material

Remains of dead plants More recent remains of dead plants

Life expectancy

60-70 years 300 years 10-15 years


Word bank: oil carbon heat energy

Extraction, transport and storage of crude oilExtraction, transport and storage of crude oilCrude oil, natural gas or coal can be extracted from under the sea or land, where they have remained trapped for millions of years. Companies like Shell and BP have invested billions of pounds exploiting oil r__________ under the North Sea, just off the coast of Scotland. The North Sea has about 45 oil platforms producing up to four million barrels a day. England has sufficient oil reserves meeting its current demand for the next forty years. Why is the price of oil likely to increase over the next 10 years ?

Getting crude oil to the refinery:


Word bank: reserves

Extraction Transport Storage

Diagram

Notes Oil is trapped under sedimentary rock under the oceans and seas. Drilling is from a floating platform. The North sea has about 45 oil platforms producing up to 4 million barrels a day.

Oil is transported by ship or pipeline. This is the most economic form of transport. Transportation by this method does have its risks. Explain what these risks are and look for the Exxon Oil Disaster.

Oil is stored at refineries usually by the coast. We use about 5 million barrels a day. Oil will finally run out in around 60-80 years. Explain what consequences this might have and what energy alternatives we can use ?

Processing of crude oilProcessing of crude oilCrude oil, once it has been extracted from underneath the bedrock, has to be processed to be useful. Close to where it is stored, oil refineries process crude oil so that it can be more useful to us. There is a great demand for fuels like petrol and d_________ and of course natural gas for heating. There is less of a demand for the large hydrocarbons that make up the lubricating oils. These refineries produce large amounts of p__________. Why is the demand for fuels and natural gas very high in Europe and England ?

Processing crude oil:


Word bank: diesel pollution

Oil refinery Distillation End Product

Diagram

Notes Oil refineries process millions of barrels of crude oil every year to provide for the high demand for fuels like petrol and diesel.

Distillation by these huge fractionating columns separates out hydrocarbons based on their boiling points. Natural gas has the lowest boiling point.

Companies like Shell and BP sell millions of litres of fuels like petrol and diesel to over 40 million drivers of cars, lorries and vans in the UK.

Fractional distillation of crude oilFractional distillation of crude oilCrude oil is a mixture of different hydrocarbons. They can be separated by fractional distillation according to their b_______ point which change according to their size (carbon atoms) The most volatile fraction, i.e with the lowest boiling point evaporates off first and goes to the top of the c________. The remaining, longer chain hydrocarbons also separate out according to their boiling points.

Crude oil

LPG gas

Petrol

Naphtha

Paraffin

Diesel

Fuel oil

Bitumen

C1 – C4

C5 – C10

C10 – C12

C12 – C16

C16 – C30

C30 – C100

C100 – C300

< 40oC

40oC – 200oC

175oC – 275oC

235oC – 300oC

>300oC

> 350oC

Highly flammable gas fuel

Car fuel

Valuable source of organic molecules

Less flammable than petrol, domestic heater fuel

Larger vehicle fuels

Not as flammable, used for central heating oil and l_________ oils

Heat (400oC)

125oC – 175oC

Forms a thick, black, tough and resistant adhesive layer on cooling. Used to lay roads.

Boi

ling

poi

nts

and

visc

osit

y.

Fractionating column Carbon atoms Boiling points Use


Word bank: boiling column lubricating

Separating hydrocarbonsSeparating hydrocarbonsFractional distillation of crude oil, a mixture of hydrocarbons is able to separate different ‘fractions’ based on their boiling points. The l_______ the chain, the higher the boiling point. Methane, ethane and propane, all short chained hydrocarbons have very low boiling points, whereas hydrocarbons containing a hundred of more carbon atoms have relatively h_____ boiling points. How can differences in boiling points be used to separate different alkanes ?

Distillation and fractional distillation:

CH4

C2H6

C3H8

C4H10

C5H12

C6H14

C8H18

C10H22


Word bank: longer high

Distillation Crude oil distillation Hydrocarbons

Diagram

Notes In the laboratory we can separate different liquids from a ‘mixture’ based on their different boiling points. What is the role of the condenser ?

An industrial fractionating column separating different hydrocarbons based on their boiling points and number of carbon atoms.

Hydrocarbons are separated into their fractions. Methane with the lowest boiling point is separated first at a temperature of around 40oC.

Hydrocarbons in crude oilHydrocarbons in crude oilCrude oil contains two families of hydrocarbon compounds: The alkanes and alkenes. The alkanes have a general formula of CnH2n + 2 and are used mainly as fuels for combustion with o______. They include methane (natural gas), the simplest alkane with the formula CH4. Alkanes can have up to 200 carbon atoms in a long carbon chain, but their general formula does not change. Longer chains are used for diesel engines, lubricating oils and domestic h________ fuels. Alkanes with more than 100 carbon atoms are found in bitumen or tar.

The alkanes:


Word bank: oxygen heating

Name Formula Diagram Name Formula Diagram

Methane CH4Pentane C5H12

Ethane C2H6 Hexane C6H14

Propane C3H8 Octane C8H18

Butane C4H10Decane C10H22

Combustion of methaneCombustion of methaneUseful alkanes include natural gas, petrol and diesel. When we combust these fuels with o________, energy in the form of h____ and light is released. The products of complete combustion are water and carbon dioxide. If insufficient oxygen from the atmosphere is supplied during combustion, what might form instead of carbon dioxide ?

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2OMethane Oxygen Carbon dioxide Water

Combustion of methane:

CC

OO

OO

OO

OO

HH

HH

HHC02

H2O H2O

HH

O2

O2

CH4

Natural gas Substrates Reaction mixture Products

Diagram

Notes Natural gas is extracted from underneath the bedrock, It is often found with crude oil deposits. The UK obtains its gas from the North Sea.

Methane is rich in carbon and is a store of ancient chemical energy. During its combustion with oxygen, it releases its energy in the form of heat and light.

During combustion, new products are formed. The methane (CH4) molecules breaks apart and forms new bonds with the oxygen atoms.

The products of methane combustion with oxygen are water (H2O) and carbon dioxide. (C02) If there is not enough oxygen carbon monoxide can form.


Word bank: oxygen heat

Combustion of the alkanesCombustion of the alkanesMost vehicles use petrol or diesel as a fuel. When we combust these hydrocarbon fuels with o_______, energy in the form of h____ and motion is released. New substances are also produced including carbon dioxide and water.

Equation:2C8H18 + 25O2 CO2 + 18H2OOctane Oxygen Carbon dioxide Water

Combustion of octane in the car engine:


Word bank: oxygen heat

Car engine Octane & Oxygen Engine Products

Diagram

Notes With over 30 million cars in the UK, petrol rich in octane (C8H18) is used as a source of chemical energy. Find out the current cost of litre of petrol ?

In the engine, huge amounts of oxygen are combined with octane. This releases all the stored chemical energy contained in carbon rich petrol.

The engine is designed to converted the chemical engine contained in octane to forward motion. It is highly inefficient releasing only 13% of the energy.

The waste products are carbon dioxide and water. However, un-combusted carbon and carbon mon-oxide are also released into the environment as polluting gases.

Supply and demand of crude oil fractionsSupply and demand of crude oil fractionsThere is a greater demand by those who use fossil fuels for the low carbon, more volatile hydrocarbons which are used for f____ in cars, p_____ and lorries. However, there is a greater supply of the high carbon, less volatile hydrocarbons. By breaking up the surplus large fractions to form small volatile fractions, companies like Shell and BP can balance s______ and demand. This is called cracking.

Meeting demand from crude oil:

% o

f tot

al c

rude

oil

supply demand

supplydemand

supplydemand

supplydemand

supplydemand

-100%

-80%

-60%

-40%

-20%

-0%

LPG gas Petrol fuel Paraffin Diesel Tar or Bitumen

LPG Gas Petrol Paraffin Diesel Residue


Word bank: fuels planes supply

Cracking long chain hydrocarbonsCracking long chain hydrocarbonsCrude oil contains far too many long chained h_________ with more than 15 carbon atoms in them. Longer hydrocarbons do not make efficient fuels. Cracking is also used to form ethene, the starting product for most plastics and other polymers. We can s_____ long chain molecules into short chained molecules. Cracking these hydrocarbons requires heat, a catalyst and an o________ free atmosphere. Why do you need to exclude oxygen from the cracker ?

Producing short chained hydrocarbons:

Crude oil

Heat (400oC) Cracker

Useful products

Cru

de o

il a

nd

cata

lyst

ar

e re

cycl

ed a

t 400

o C

C10H22

C2H4

C3H6

C5H12

Ethene

Propene

Pentane

Short chainedAlkanes & alkenes

Decane


Word bank: split oxygen

Industrial cracking of crude oil Closer look at cracking

The alkenesThe alkenesThe alkenes have a general formula of CnH2n and are used mainly for the manufacture of polymers. Each alkene has a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) which can be broken by other atoms like h________ or chlorine added across the double bond. Polymers, made from simple alkenes are extremely long chained hydrocarbon molecules. The simplest alkene is ethene with the formula C2H4.

The alkenes:


Word bank: hydrogen

C C = C C H

C = C

H H

H H

C = C C

H H

H H H

H H

H H H H

H

H

C C = C C C H

H H H

H H H H H

H

Name Formula Diagram Structural Diagram

Ethene C2H4

Propene C3H6

Butene C4H8

Pentene C5H10

Producing ethane from etheneProducing ethane from etheneUnsaturated e_______ (C2H4) can also react with the gas h________ to form the alkane ethane (C2H6) In this case, ethene in changing to ethane, becomes fully saturated. This reaction requires h________, a nickel catalyst and an oxygen free atmosphere. The ethene molecule is much more reactive then the ethane molecule because it has the carbon-carbon double bond. Why do we call ethene and the alkenes unsaturated and ethane and the alkanes saturated ?

Addition of hydrogen to ethene:


Word bank: ethene hydrogen

Equation C2H4 + H2 C2H6

The two hydrogen atoms join the ethene molecule across the double bond forming the saturated alkane, ethane.

Ethene (Alkene) Hydrogen (from water) Ethane (Alkane)

Diagram

Chemical test for the alkenesChemical test for the alkenesHydrocarbons like the alkenes with a double carbon-carbon bond are called unsaturated. Alkenes with their double bond are much more r________ that the alkanes. Other elements like hydrogen and chlorine can be added to alkenes by breaking the double bond. Testing for alkenes: If you shake up an alkene with a solution of brown bromine water, then the bromine water appears to lose it’s colour. The double bond in the alkene breaks open and forms new bonds with the b_______ atoms. This type of reaction is called an addition reaction. Olive oil but not butter decolourises bromine water what does this tell you about the two types of fat ?

Testing for alkenes:

Ethene Bromine (in water) di-Bromoethene

Diagram

Equation C2H4 + Br2 C2H4Br2

The ethene molecule contains a carbon-carbon double bond which accepts both bromine atoms. When the bromine atoms join the ethene molecule the bromine water loses its brown colour.


Word bank: reactive bromine

Using ethene to form plasticsUsing ethene to form plasticsEthene (C2H4) monomers can be joined together to make a polymer called polythene. Polythene contains huge molecules that act like fibres that can be used as alternatives to natural materials like w____, paper and metals. Polythene is also very cheap to manufacture whilst crude oil remains plentiful and the quality is always the same after its manufacture. Explain why it is beneficial to the environment to use plastics rather than natural materials like wood, paper and metals ?

Manufacturing plastic or polythene from ethene:

+

+

+

+

Ethene (C2H4) Polymerisation reaction Polythene (nC2H4)

Diagram

Notes Ethene (C2H4) is produced in large amounts by cracking long chain hydrocarbons found in crude oil.

In the presence of a metal catalyst, molecules of ethene add to one another forming long chained polymers with the formula nC2H4

Polythene has the general formula nC2H4. Molecules can contain up to 50,000 carbon atoms. These chains behave like fibres.


Word bank: wood

Using plastics in everyday lifeUsing plastics in everyday lifePolymers like polythene, polyvinylchloride (PVC) and nylon have replaced natural materials like paper, wood, glass and ceramic. Plastics are c_______, readily available, tough, waterproof and flexible. They are produced in huge quantities and are used in everyday life from the humble plastic bag to replacement h____ and bone joints. Although using plastics instead of glass, paper and wood actually saves energy and rainforests, they are not biodegradable so their use adds many thousands of tonnes of rubbish per year to landfill sites.

Using plastics:

RecycleReduceReplace


Word bank: cheap hip

Making polythene The plastic bag Saving energy

Diagram

Notes Here we see polythene made from the polymerisation of the alkene ethene. Huge sheets of polythene like the one pictured above are manufactured from combining alkene monomers. Polythene is used for food wrapping, packaging and plastic bags.

The plastic shopping bag made from polythene has saved thousands of trees which would have been used for making paper. Plastic takes a long time to decay once thrown away.

We can all make less of an impact on the environment in our daily lives.

Soil

There is 3300 billion tonnes of carbon trapped in oil, coal and natural gas deposits found under rock sediments.

The carbon cycleThe carbon cycleAll living organisms require the element c_________ to make carbohydrates, proteins and other important molecules which make up living organisms. Cellular respiration and decomposition by bacteria releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Plants use this during p____________ at the same rate. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere should stay the same but it is increasing rapidly because of the use of fossil fuels and deforestation.

The carbon cycle:

Ocean

There is 1020 billion tonnes of carbon trapped in living organisms like algae. CO2 is also dissolved in the oceans.

RespirationCO2 Atmosphere

There is 750 billion tonnes of CO2 trapped in the atmosphere. This is rising by 3 billion tonnes a year because of fossil fuel use and deforestation.

Atmosphere

Plant biomass

PhotosynthesisLand deforestation

Buried fossil fuels

Fossil fuel combustion

Marine biomass


Word bank: carbon photosynthesis

Pollution using crude oilPollution using crude oilThe oil industry, including companies like Shell and Exxon have a responsibility to make sure that their company and staff do not p_______ the environment. Occasionally, either during extraction, transport or s_______ of crude oil, these companies can pollute the environment with devastating consequences. An oil tanker spilling its load at sea or near to populated coastlines can destroy the local ecosystems and peoples’ livelihoods. These effects can sometimes last for many decades. Go to google.co.uk and type in and search for ‘Exxon Valdize’

Impacting on the environment:Tanker spills Oil depot fires Oil spills on land

Diagram

Notes Releasing millions of barrels of thick poisonous crude oil into the oceans means death to many species in the ocean’s food chains and webs.

Fires involving crude oil releases thick black toxic smoke into the environment causing widespread pollution and damage over a large area.

Crude oil coats every living organisms that it comes in contact with. Birds are especially vulnerable with their delicate feathers.


Word bank: pollute storage

Over the last century, our use of fossil fuels has released huge amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. This has disrupted the b_________ between carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and carbon found tied up under rock in crude oil, natural gas and coal. Currently we are adding an extra 3 billion tonnes of carbon each year into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide molecule traps infra red h_____ from the sun. Slowly our planet is warming because of the rising carbon dioxide levels. How can you reduce your dependence on fossil fuels like petrol and natural gas ?

The greenhouse effect:

Fossil fuelsFossil fuels greenhouse effectgreenhouse effectScience Interactive LTD Copyright 2005

Word bank: balance heat

Altitude (km)

15 50

Solar radiation

Rad

iate

d ou

t to

spac

e

Absorbed in atmosphereby greenhouse gases

Altitude (km)

Solar radiation

Rad

iate

d ou

t to

spac

e

Absorbed in atmosphereby greenhouse gases

15 50

World’s crude oil use Rising levels of carbon dioxide The greenhouse effect

The World’s energy demand and the use of crude oil is increasing. China in the next two decades will use more than the USA.

There are over 500 million cars, all pumping out carbon dioxide from the combustion of octane or petrol. Car use is set to double over 20 years.

Carbon dioxides traps heat energy from the sun. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing by 3 billion tonnes a year.

Effects of global warmingEffects of global warming oneone

Scientists have many theories as to what may happen over the next century because of rising carbon dioxide levels in the a__________, as a result of combusting fossil fossils and the subsequent rising global temperatures. There is now increasing agreement amongst scientists that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels need to be controlled. Many countries have signed ‘The Kyoto Agreement’ which aims to reduce carbon emissions over the next 20 years. This will perhaps s____ global warming. Only one country, America has not signed up, she is the biggest carbon polluter. Why do you think that America has not signed up ?

Effects of global warming:


Word bank: atmosphere slow

Global warming Drought Ozone layer Flooding

Diagram

Notes Average world or global temperatures are set to increase by between 0.5 and 1oC per decade for the next fifty years.

More extremes of temperatures are now expected with lower rainfall in areas which already see little rain over the year.

The destruction of the Ozone by CFCs from aerosols will also add to global warming by reflecting less infra red heat given out by the sun.

Flooding will increase over the next decade. In England (summer 2004), we had some of the worst flash floods on record, including Boscastle.

Effects of global warmingEffects of global warming twotwoThe greenhouse effect is a natural process where the 750 billions tonnes of c________ dioxide in the atmosphere maintains the Earth’s atmosphere at hospitable temperatures, which are supportive of life, here on Earth. Combusting fossil fuels is adding to this ‘warming effect’ causing average global t___________ to rise over the last fifty years. Global warming will continue, whilst we continue to combust fossil fuels like coal and oil. The World’s weather, habitats and temperature are set to change over the next century.

Effects of global warming:


Word bank: carbon temperatures

Weather Waves Biodiversity Melting ice caps

Diagram

Notes The World’s weather will become more dynamic. In summer 2004, Florida in America was hit by three hurricanes causing immense damage.

Damage due to strong tides and wave action along the coast will also increase over the next decade. Parts of the England's coastline are now being eroded.

Animals and plants may undergo mass extinction in the next one hundred years if global warming continues. The Malarial Mosquito is spreading north into Europe.

The ice caps have shrunk in size over the last 30 years. This may rise sea levels and also reduce the amount of the Sun’s infra red heat reflected back into space.

Acid rain and fossil fuelsAcid rain and fossil fuelsCarbon dioxide is not the only pollutant that is released into the environment during the combustion of fossil fuels. Sulphur and nitrogen, in small quantities are also present in crude oil. During combustion, both s_______ and nitrogen combine with oxygen to form sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases form weak acids when they react with water present in the atmosphere. Acid rain can damage f________ and plant life. It can also acidify lakes and ponds disrupting natures balance.

Acid rain:


Word bank: sulphur forest

Polluting the Earth’s atmosphere pH of precipitation across America

Diagram

Notes With 280 million Americans each using on average a staggering 3kw per hour every day of the year, the amount of Sulphur dioxide gas emitted per year for ever square kilometre of land is around 0.4 of a tonne.

The pH of rainfall is lowest where you find the highest population across the East Coast of America. Almost 150 million Americans live, work, drive and pollute in this area. The pH of rain water in some areas of the Eastern USA seaboard has a very acidic pH of 4.2.

Power station Combustion engines

SO2 NOx

S02 & NOx react with water to form acid rain.

Sulphuric acid Nitric acid

Acidified lake

Acid Rain

Damaged forests

Acid Rain Acid Rain

Acidified soil

H2SO4 HNO3

Acid rain and the atmosphereAcid rain and the atmosphereIn addition to releasing carbon dioxide, small amounts of sulphur and nitrogen, present as impurities in crude oil cause other polluting gases to be released into the atmosphere. During combustion, both sulphur and nitrogen combine with o________ to form sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases form weak acids when they react with water in the atmosphere. Acid rain can damage forests and plant life. It can also acidify lakes and ponds disrupting natures balance.

Acid rain cycle:

Rain cloud

Diagram

Notes The combustion of fossils fuels releases SO2 and NOx into the atmosphere. These gases on contact with water vapour form sulphuric and nitric acid. Acid rain can damage forests, acidify the soil and reduce the pH of lakes, ponds and rivers. Rain clouds containing low pH rain water can travel many kilometres. Due to England's westerly winds, our acid rain travels to our European neighbours including Sweden and Denmark.


Word bank: oxygen

Acid rain and fossil fuelsAcid rain and fossil fuelsCarbon dioxide is not the only pollutant that is released into the environment during the combustion of fossil fuels. Sulphur and nitrogen are also present in crude oil. During combustion, both sulphur and nitrogen combine with oxygen to form sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These gases form weak a_____ when they react with water in the atmosphere. Acid rain can damage forests and plant life. It can also acidify l______ and pond disrupting natures balance. Look at this statue and notice the chemical weathering !

Acid rain and its effects:


Word bank: acids lakes

Acid rain damage to forests Acid rain damage to waterways Acid rain damage to marble

Diagram

Notes Forests and all plant life are sensitive to acid rain even over short periods of time. The delicate leaves are damaged by the low pH rainfall. When a tree loses its leaves due to acid rain, it can no longer produce its own food during photosynthesis.

Rivers, ponds and lakes can become acidic in areas with high rainfall levels. Low pH of the water can lead to the disruption of the ecosystem, therefore killing many species. How can scientists neutralise acidic lakes, what chemical would they use ?

Acid rain also destroys buildings and statues made from limestone or marble. Dissolved acid in raindrops reacts with the calcium carbonate in the marble or limestone making a soluble product calcium oxide. This is slowly dissolved away by rainfall.

Renewable energy sourcesRenewable energy sourcesRenewable alternatives to using crude oil for generating electricity are now being developed. These reduce our dependence on crude oil, as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Many sources of e_______ that we currently use every day are now renewable. This means that unlike coal, natural gas and crude oil they are not used up. Many scientists are working to develop the technology to use these renewable sources of energy to generate e__________.

Overview of renewable energy:


Word bank: energy electricity

Wind Solar Biogas Hydroelectric

Wind farms could supply up to 15% of the energy we use every year. Why do people in the countryside object to these wind farms ?

Solar cells using solar energy could power traffic lights and street lamps. They are only useful in countries with high rates of sunshine.

Converting animal waste like manure from farms and farming into methane using bacteria is a way of replacing fossil fuels like gas. Give the formula of methane ?

Using moving water, hydro-electric dams are able to generate clean electricity. The only problem is that you need lots of space and high yearly rainfall.

Generating electricity using wind powerGenerating electricity using wind powerWind power stations makes use of the k_______ energy of moving air currents. Kinetic energy directly drives small generators that produce electricity. Wind farms are usually found in windy unpopulated areas. Several w_____ turbines can supply, on a windy day enough energy for a small town. This is a clean, renewable form of energy with limited drawbacks. Some people object to the ‘visual pollution’ that many wind turbines cause and believe they spoil the landscape. Why do you need large areas of land to generate electricity using wind power ?

Wind power supplying electricity:


Word bank: kinetic wind

Diagram

Notes Captured kinetic energy of the wind drives the generator, producing electricity. Using wind turbines is still expensive and is only viable in countries with large amounts of free land and of course windy weather. The energy is totally renewable and does not increase the levels of polluting gases which add to either global warming or acid rain. The map shows the average wind speed in America. Where are the best places for a wind farm....Explain your answer ?

Generating electricity using solar powerGenerating electricity using solar powerSolar power can be used directly to generate small amounts of electricity using photovoltic cells. These produce a low c________ and are only useful for producing electricity in remote areas or for devices that only require a low current, for example calculators. Using solar power to heat water creating steam which then drives a turbine generator is another way the sun’s energy can be used to generate electricity. E_________ regions that receive plenty of sunshine are ideal. The only problem is that the technology is still relatively expensive. Why is the UK not an ideal location for solar panels or cells ?

Solar power supplying electricity:


Word bank: current equatorial

Diagram

Notes Steam produced from the heat energy collected by solar reflectors drives the turbine and generator. A current is induced in the cables. Electricity is transported to commercial and domestic users. Using solar cells is expensive and is only viable in countries with good weather. Solar cells can be used to directly generate electricity. These are very useful where there is demand for energy in very remote areas like the desert or away from major towns and cities.

Fermentor

Turbine

Generator

Transformer 1 Customer

33,000V 240V

Manure Fermentor

Steam

Waste Gases

Furnace

Boiler

Transformer 2

Biogas

Generating electricity using biogasGenerating electricity using biogasElectricity can be generated on a small scale using biogas. Biogas is exactly the same as methane, the fossil fuel extracted from underneath the rock, but it is produced by b________ respiring animal wastes like manure. This is therefore a renewable supply of methane gas which can be used in the same way as fossil fuels, with the h_____ energy used to produce steam which in turn drives a turbine generator. Why is the amount of electricity generated using this method very small at present ?

Biogas supplying electricity:

Fermentor

Turbine

Generator


33,000V 240V

Manure Fermentor

Steam

Waste Gases

Furnace

Boiler

Transformer 2

Biogas mini power station

Fermentor

Turbine

Generator


33,000V 240V

Manure Fermentor

Steam

Waste Gases

Furnace

Boiler

Transformer 2

Biogas mini power station Diagram

Notes Steam produced from the heat energy given out when natural gas (CH4) is combusted with oxygen drives the turbine and generator. A current is induced in the cables. Electricity is transported to commercial and domestic uses only. Using biogas, although expensive and still producing greenhouse gases recycles animal waste like manure.


Word bank: bacteria heat

Generating electricity using gravitational potential energyGenerating electricity using gravitational potential energyWater held behind a dam, stores huge amount of gravitational potential energy. When the stored water is allowed to flow downhill, its kinetic energy is used to drive turbine generators, which in turn produces electricity. Hydroelectric dams are usually constructed in mountainous areas with high yearly rainfall levels. The three gorges dam is the largest r__________ and is currently under construction in China. When finished, it will generate millions of kilowatts everyday. Although this is renewable e_______ up to ten million people will be displaced when the valley is flooded. Why is this technology used only in wet mountainous areas ?

Moving water supplying electricity:


Word bank: reservoir energy

Diagram

Notes Large amounts of land and rainfall are required for any hydroelectric dam. The main advantages of hydroelectricity is that it is a renewable form of energy and the start up time from allowing the water drop to generating electricity is less than a second. Electrical energy generated in this way is used to supply electrical power during peak demands.

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