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Date November 2017 Marks available 3 Reference code 17N.3.sl.TZ0.13
Level SL Paper 3 Time zone TZ0
Command term Explain Question number 13 Adapted from N/A

Question

Much of our energy needs are still provided by the refined products of crude oil.

“Knocking” in an automobile (car) engine can be prevented by increasing the octane number of the fuel. Explain, including an equation with structural formulas, how heptane, C7H16, could be chemically converted to increase its octane number.

[3]
a.

Many like to refer to our “carbon footprint”. Outline one difficulty in quantifying such a concept.

[1]
b.

Climate change or global warming is a consequence of increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Explain how the greenhouse effect warms the surface of the earth.

[3]
c.

Outline how water and carbon dioxide absorb infrared radiation.

[1]
d.

Markscheme

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 → CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)2

OR

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 → 

isomerisation/reforming/platforming/cracking

Pt/Re/Rh/Pd/Ir

OR

catalyst

A structural formula is only required for the organic product, not heptane.

Accept any correctly balanced equation showing increased branching or cyclization OR aromatization OR cracking.

Suitable supports for catalysts may be included for M3 (eg silica, alumina, zeolite) but the symbol or name of an appropriate metal must be given (typically a noble metal). Ignore temperature and other conditions.

Award M2 AND M3 for “catalytic isomerisation” OR “catalytic reforming” OR “catalytic cracking”.

a.

which specific carbon-based greenhouse gases are included

OR

whether non-carbon based greenhouse gases should be included

OR

whether CO/incomplete combustion should be included «as can be oxidized to CO2»

OR

how to “sum” all steps in a process creating CO2

OR

difficult to determine both direct and indirect production of GHG/greenhouse gas emissions

Ignore reference to geopolitical issues (eg false recording of data by governments etc.).

Accept “difficult to measure all sources of CO2” but not “difficult to measure CO2 released in atmosphere”.

b.

Any three of:

incoming solar radiation is short wavelength/high frequency/high energy/UV

radiated/emitted as long wavelength/low frequency/low energy/IR «radiation»

energy/IR «radiation» absorbed by «bonds in» greenhouse gases

energy radiated/emitted as IR «radiation» some of which returns back to Earth

Do not accept “reflected” OR “bounced” OR “trapped”.

[Max 3 Marks]

c.

bond length changes

OR

«asymmetric» stretching «of bonds»

OR

bond angle changes/bends

OR

polarity/dipole «moment» changes

OR

a dipole «moment» is created «when the molecule absorbs IR»

Accept “vibration of bonds” OR appropriate diagram

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.

Syllabus sections

Options » C: Energy » C.2 Fossil fuels
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