Question

Explain the difference in the efficiencies of the fuels based on the chemical structures of the fuels. The 2 fuels are: Fuel canister (Isopropanol/Water) and Tea candle (paraffin).

Diethylene glycol is an organic compound used as a fuel in heating cans. Based on its structure, how do you hypothesize its energy efficiency (cal/g) compared to isopropanol and paraffin wax?

What are the possible sources of error in this experiment? How could the errors be reduced in future experiments?

Answer 1

1)

The fuel canister (diethylene glycol) was more efficient because it is not just a simple hydrocarbon.The fuel canister (diethylene glycol) was more efficient because it is not just a simple hydrocarbon. The fuel canister also contains oxygen that accelerates the substance to burn faster.

2)

Paraffin is a byproduct of petroleum, coal or oil shale which is a mixture of saturated hydrocarbon molecules containing between twenty to forty carbon atoms. It is the most common type of wax used in candles.

Diethylene Glycol DEG is produced by the partial hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. Depending on the conditions, varying amounts of DEG and related glycols are produced. . It is an organic and partially oxidized compound. The resulting product is two ethylene glycol molecules joined by an ether bond.

3)

think the errors will mostly be random errors than something very prevalent. There can also be chance of calculation errors. I don’t think everyone will have same results because the canister and candle can be weighing different and not same for everyone.