6 (a)
Explain one advantage of using biodiesel made from plant oils compared with using fossil diesel made from crude oil - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a)
Explain one advantage of using biodiesel made from plant oils compared with using fossil diesel made from crude oil.
6 (b)
Plant oils are used in emulsions ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a)
Explain one advantage of using biodiesel made from plant oils compared with using fossil diesel made from crude oil - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain one advantage of using biodiesel made from plant oils compared with using fossil diesel made from crude oil.
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Answer
Biodiesel is carbon neutral because it releases the carbon dioxide that was absorbed by the plants during photosynthesis, thus not adding extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Step 2
Explain how an emulsion of water and oil is formed.
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Answer
An emulsion is formed when an emulsifier is added to a mixture of water and oil. The hydrophilic head of the emulsifier dissolves in water, while the hydrophobic tail dissolves in oil. This creates a stable mixture where tiny droplets of oil are dispersed in water, preventing separation.
Step 3
Describe the colour change.
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Answer
When bromine water is shaken with some plant oils, the colour changes from orange to colourless due to the reaction with unsaturated bonds in the oils.
Step 4
Describe and explain what happens to plant oils when they react with hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst at about 60 °C.
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Answer
When plant oils react with hydrogen at 60 °C in the presence of a nickel catalyst, hydrogen adds to the carbon-carbon double bonds in the oils. This process opens up the double bonds, transforming unsaturated oils into more saturated oils, often resulting in a solid or semi-solid product.