CHEMISTRY FOR ENGINEERS: FUELS AND COMBUSTION - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from fuels and combustion, including energy basics, fuel classifications, combustion types, and related units.

Energy

The capacity to do work; can be transformed between forms and categorized as potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE).

Potential Energy (PE)

Energy stored due to the position of an object; can convert to kinetic energy as the object moves (e.g., water at height).

Kinetic Energy (KE)

Energy of motion; increases with speed and mass (e.g., moving water turning a turbine).

Energy Conversion and Conservation

Energy can change from one form to another, but total energy is conserved; heat, light, or electricity may be involved in the process.

Thermal Energy

Kinetic energy of random motion of atoms/molecules within a substance.

Temperature

Quantitative measure of how hot or cold something is.

Heat

Transfer of thermal energy between bodies at different temperatures.

Thermochemistry

Study of heat changes that accompany chemical reactions.

Exothermic Process

A process that releases heat to the surroundings; energy flows from the system to the surroundings.

Endothermic Process

A process that absorbs heat from the surroundings; energy flows from the surroundings to the system.

System

The part of the universe being studied or observed in a process.

Surroundings

The rest of the universe outside the system.

Joule (J)

SI unit of energy; 1 J = 1 N·m.

Calorie (cal)

Unit of energy; 1 cal = 4.184 J.

British Thermal Unit (BTU)

Energy unit; 1 BTU = 1055 J.

Fossil Fuels

Energy sources formed from ancient organic matter; include oil and coal and have been dominant electricity sources historically.

Natural (Primary) Fuels

Fuels occurring in nature, such as wood, oil, and natural gas.

Artificial (Secondary) Fuels

Fuels produced by processing primary fuels, e.g., charcoal.

Solid Fuels

Fuels that are solid at room temperature; advantages include easy handling and storage, but they produce ash and have lower calorific value.

Liquid Fuels

Fuels that are liquids at room temperature; advantages include no ash and higher calorific value, but may have odor and storage considerations.

Gaseous Fuels

Gaseous fuels; advantages include easy transport via pipes and high calorific value, but they are highly flammable and require storage tanks.

Calorific Value

Total energy released as heat when a substance undergoes complete combustion with oxygen under standard conditions.

Ignition Temperature

The minimum temperature at which a fuel will ignite and sustain combustion.

Complete Combustion

All carbon and hydrogen in a hydrocarbon are oxidized to CO2 and H2O.

Incomplete Combustion

Some carbon is oxidized to carbon monoxide (CO) due to limited oxygen.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion when there is insufficient oxygen.

Oxidizer

Substance that provides oxygen for combustion (typically oxygen from air).

Combustion

Chemical reaction with oxygen that releases heat; also known as burning; an exothermic process.

Fuel

A combustible substance containing carbon as a main constituent; burning yields large amounts of heat for practical use.

Charcoal

An artificial/secondary fuel produced by processing wood.