Standard Level Content
Unit 9 · IB Chemistry
Energy Content of Fuels
Application of thermodynamics to evaluate the efficiency and environmental impact of various energy sources and fuels.
Lesson Slideshow Section 01
Unit Summary Section 02
Key Concepts
Specific Energy, Energy Density, Carbon Footprint, Fossil Fuels vs Renewables
Assessment Objectives
Define energy density, Compare fuel efficiencies, Discuss greenhouse effect
Prior Knowledge Needed
Enthalpy of combustion, stoichiometry (R1.1)
IB Syllabus Reference
R1.1
Interactive Study Guide
Click here to view the full, detailed topic summary for this unit.
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Cu
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Video Lesson Section 03
Video Instruction
1 Lessons Available
Biofuels and Fuel Cells
Practice Quiz Section 04 · Interactive
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Ne
20.180
Vocabulary Review Section 05
Specific Energy
Energy released per unit mass of a fuel ($kJ \cdot kg^{-1}$).
Energy Density
Energy released per unit volume of a fuel ($kJ \cdot dm^{-3}$).
Fossil Fuel
Non-renewable fuels formed over millions of years from dead organic matter.
Renewable Energy
Energy sourced from resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale.
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an activity or fuel.
Biofuel
Fuel derived from recently living organic matter (biomass).
Nuclear Fission
The splitting of a heavy nucleus into lighter nuclei, releasing massive energy.
Fuel Cell
A device that converts chemical energy from a fuel directly into electricity via redox.
Hydrocarbon
A compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
Greenhouse Effect
The process by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface.
Photovoltaic Cell
A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current (DC) electricity.
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Fe
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Revision Notes Section 06
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Au
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Practice Tests Section 07
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Cl
35.45
Worksheets & Labs Section 08