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Year 11 Chemistry Research Assignment

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Chlorophyll clip_image002Outline the role of photosynthesis in transforming light energy to chemical energy (including raw materials needed for this process) Photosynthesis occurs in all green plants and is the beginning of nearly all food chains therefore a source of life to all living organisms. It is the process where plants transform light energy from the sun into chemical energy. By using light energy trapped by chlorophyll (light absorbing pigment), plants combine carbon dioxide and water to form glucose and oxygen. As it absorbs energy from sunlight, this reaction is endothermic. Light energy is converted into chemical energy which is stored as glucose. When this occurs, most of the glucose is converted into complex …show more content…

Due to its density, the oil tends to migrate upwards where it may seep out onto the earth’s surface or become trapped beneath rock.

Natural Gas
Natural gas also comes from marine organisms which accumulate as organic sediment in oceans or inland seas. Over long periods of time, the organic matter was covered by sediment and more sediment. The action of anaerobic bacteria, and the increasing temperature and pressure of being compacted and great depths turned organic material into hydrocarbons. Describe the use of fractional distillation to separate the components of petroleum and identify the uses of each fraction obtained. clip_image008Crude oil consists of a complex mixture of hydrocarbon compound molecules. This means that crude oil can be separated into many components by fractional distillation as these components have different boiling and condensation points. This is achieved using a fractionating tower. Firstly, the crude oil is heated to about 400 degrees to produce a hot liquid that goes into the fractionating tower. Inside there are horizontal trays each containing many bubble caps. As vapour rises, it forces up the bubble caps and bubbles through the condensed liquid in the trays. The fractioning tower is designed so that the various fractions can be separated according to their boiling and condensation points. The higher boiling point components tend

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