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Fossil fuels contain carbon and hydrogen - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 1
Fossil fuels contain carbon and hydrogen. 1 (a) (i) Use the Chemistry Data Sheet to help you to answer this question. Complete Figure 1 to show the electronic stru... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Fossil fuels contain carbon and hydrogen - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
1 (a) (i) Complete Figure 1 to show the electronic structure of a carbon atom.
Answer
In Figure 1, the electronic structure of a carbon atom can be represented by drawing a nucleus at the center, which contains 6 protons and typically 6 neutrons. Surrounding the nucleus, there should be two electrons in the first energy level (represented as dots or crosses) and four electrons in the second energy level. Thus, the complete structure for carbon (C) is:
- Nucleus: 6 protons, 6 neutrons
- First shell (2 electrons)
- Second shell (4 electrons)
For representation, it can be shown as:
*
* * * *
*
Where * represents the electrons.
Step 2
Step 3
1 (b) Name two products of burning coal that have an impact on the environment.
Answer
Two products of burning coal that have an impact on the environment are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
Impact of each product:
-
Carbon dioxide: This gas is a major contributor to global warming, leading to climate change, sea level rise, and melting of polar ice caps.
-
Sulfur dioxide: This gas causes acid rain, which can kill plants, erode buildings, and acidify water bodies.