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Comparing The Heat Combustion Of Different Fuels

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Transport – A Necessary Evil: Comparing the Heat Combustion of Different Fuels
Aim:
The aim of this experiment is to test each fuel (Ethanol, Hexanol and Octanol) by using a spirit burner, tripod and beaker filled with water to determine which fuel produces the most effective heat of combustion that is also safe to take camping. This will be conducted by using a stopwatch to time the combustion of each fuel to determine which fuels heats the water quickly, and what materials can be used to minimise loss of energy when heat is being transferred from the flame to the water.
Hypothesis:
If 1-Octanol, Ethanol and 1-Hexanol are combusted with air to heat up water then Octanol will produce the greatest heat of combustion (the largest change in enthalpy using q=mc∆T). This is because Octanol has the longest carbon chain and therefore more energy required to break the bonds equals more energy being produced when bonds are made.
Introduction:
Fuels are materials such as coal, gas, wood or oil that store potential energy as when combusted in air, produce heat energy. The energy used every day comes in many different forms from many different sources, a main source being fuels. Chemical energy found in fuels and foods is changed into heat energy by combustion (burning in oxygen). Since the camping trip is at a National Park, materials such as wood, charcoal and peat cannot be used as all these substances provide natural habitats for native wildlife in the area, therefore the fuels

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