U 3 AOS 1 - Chapter 1

Chemical Decomposition

process in which larger chemical species are broken into simpler molecules

Coal

combustible fossil fuel formed by the partial decay of plant and animal matter

Coal Seam Gas

natural gas sourced from coal deposits

Crude Oil

viscous black mixture of hydrocarbons

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

process of the warming of the Earth's lower atmosphere due to the increased concentration of gases like carbon dioxide, water vapour, and methane in the air.

Fossil Fuel

natural fuel that is formed under the Earth's crust from the decomposition of plant/animal remains over millions of years.

Fuel

substance that is used (usually combusted) to produce energy

Natural Gas

fossil fuel consisting of small hydrocarbon molecules.

Non-renewable resource

resources that natural processes cannot replace within a relatively short period of time.

Petrol

liquid hydrocarbon fossil fuel purified from crude oil.

Petroleum

A complex mixture of hydrocarbons (often called crude oil) found under Earth's crust.

Sustainable

can be produced at a rate that is greater than or equal to the rate of consumption without compromising future generations.

Biodiesel

fuel produced by the transesterification of fats and oils in organic matter

Bioethanol

fuel produced by the anaerobic fermentation of glucose from organic matter

Biofuel

fuel sourced from organic matter

Biogas

gaseous fuel produced by the anaerobic breakdown of organic matter.

Biomass

any organic material made of plant or animal matter

Carbon neutral

describes a fuel that does not result in a net production of carbon dioxide from sourcing and consumption.

Distillation

process involving the conversion of a liquid into a vapour that is then condensed back to liquid form.

Feedstock

raw material used for producing another product.

Fermentation

breakdown of a substance in the presence of microorganisms such as yeast.

Life Cycle

the management of the production, processing, storage, transportation, use and disposal of a chemical product.

Renewable Resource

resource capable of being replaced by natural processes within a relatively short period of time.

Transesterification reaction

a type of chemical reaction used to produce biodiesel and glycerol.

Triglyceride

fat or oil composed of three fatty acid tails and a glycerol backbone.

Yeast

variety of mocroorgaaism which converts glucose into ethanol.

Carbohydrate

any polymer made up of sugar monomers like glucose

Cellular respiration

process of converting glucose into energy in the cells of living organisms

Digestion

a series of complex processes involved in the breakdown of food.

Energy content

amount of heat energy produced upon burning 1 gram of a pure substance.

Glucose (C6H12O6)

An important sugar that is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells.

Metabolism

chemical reactions in the body's cells that change food into energy.

Photosynthesis

process of converting light energy into chemical energy in the cells of plants, algae, and certain bacteria.

Activation energy

minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to proceed.

Chemical energy

energy stored in the bonds (electrostatic attractions) of chemical compounds.

Combustion

exothermic reaction between fuel and oxygen gas.

Complete combustion

combustion reaction where oxygen gas is in excess, producing only carbon dioxide gas and water.

Endothermic reaction

chemical reaction that absorbs energy (in the form of heat)o from the surrounding environment.

Energy profile diagram

diagram that represents energy changes during a chemical reaction.

Enthalapy change

overall change in the chemical energy of a system.

Exothermic reaction

chemical reaction accompanied by the release of energy

Heat of combustion

amount of heat released by the complete combustion of a substance

Incomplete combustion

combustion reaction where oxygen supply is limited; able to produce a range of carbon-based products in addition to water.

Molar heat of combustion

amount of heat released (in kJ/mol) when 1 mil of substance completely combusts in excess oxygen gas.

Thermochemical equation

balanced chemical equation that includes the enthalpy change of the reaction, measured in kJ/mol.