You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 10 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
This lesson examines the pollutants produced by the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in greater detail, as required by AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (5.9.3). You need to be able to write balanced equations for the complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, explain why different pollutants form under different conditions, and describe the catalytic converter as a key technology for reducing emissions from vehicles.
Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms. The most common hydrocarbon fuels are:
| Fuel | Main Hydrocarbon | Formula | State at Room Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | Methane | CH₄ | Gas |
| LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) | Propane / Butane | C₃H₈ / C₄H₁₀ | Gas (stored as liquid under pressure) |
| Petrol | Octane (approximately) | C₈H₁₈ | Liquid |
| Diesel | Longer-chain hydrocarbons | ~C₁₂H₂₆ to C₂₀H₄₂ | Liquid |
All of these fuels are derived from crude oil (petroleum) or natural gas, which are fossil fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms buried and compressed over millions of years.
Subscribe to continue reading
Get full access to this lesson and all 10 lessons in this course.