Chemical reactions, Combustion and Engines

The Litmus Test

The Litmus Test was first naturally completed using extracts from species of lichen. It can be completed at home using Red Cabbage.

pouvoir Hydrogene

pH measures 3 levels on a scale from 0-14, which are bases (alkali), acids and the neutrals.

Acids are chemicals made of mainly Positive Hydrogen Atoms. Acids range from 0-7 on the pH scale; the strongest Acids are closer to 0, the weaker are closer to 7.

Bases are chemicals mainly composed of Negative Hydrogen Atoms. Bases range from 7-14 on the pH scale, the stonger the base, the closer to 14 it gets; the weaker the closer to 7.

Neutrals are chemicals closer to 7. The ‘most neutral’ subtance considered to be a perfect 7 is distilled water. Acids and bases of similar or equal strength, when combined, neutralize and come out to be a chemical close to 7.

Synthesis, Decomposition and Combustion.

A synthesis reaction is when two or more particles combine into a single molecule. Most synthesis reactions are based Covalent Bonds, which allow atoms to share electrons with other atoms. i.e. Water Water is the combination of Oxygen and Hydrogen Atoms.

The chemical reaction of deomposition is when a molecule breaks down into smaller particles or atoms. i.e. Photosynthesis Light Energy creates a chemical reaciton that breaks water and carbon dioxide molecules that will eventually turn into glucose and oxygen.

The chemical reaction of combustion usually involves a substance reaciton to oxygen. Hydrocarbons are usually the main fuel source, such as Methane, Butane or Propane. The byproducts of most combustion reaction involving hydrocarbons will be Carbon Dioxide, Water, Heat and Light.

Neither. Fire is only a visual result of Combustion.

Fuel, and Oxidizer and a Heat Source

Fuels for Combustion will typically have Hydrocarbons like Methane, Propane and Butane, but may also contain resources like sugars. Accessible Hydrogen is the key element of fuel quality.

Oxygen is usually the Oxidizer in Combustion, and it helps sustain or intensify the rate of Combustion. Oxidizers provide oxygen atoms that’ll combine with other atoms to create new molecules.

Heat sources help initiate the combustion reaction by allowing the atoms of the Fuel to be realeased fromt their bonds. The released atoms will combine with the oxygen atoms from the oxidizer and create Heat and Light Energies and Gasses like Carbon Dioxide, and Water.

German Nicolaus Otto, in 1876.

Internal and External Combustion engines.

The Combustion is created away from the moving mechanisms, and the energy is tranferred to the engine. i.e. a Steam Engine Steam Engines’ Boilers allow for water to boil, which creates an expansive gas that drives a piston to move.

The design of an Internal Combusiton Engine is similar to that of a Steam Engine, but creates the heat source from within the engine, instead of externally, as the name implies. The Cylinder contains a Fuel-Air Mixture (for every 1 unit of fuel, there should be 15 units of air) The piston creates a compressed chamber for the fuel-air mixture, the spark plug ignites the mixture, forcing the piston downwards.

Jet Engines are an example of Continuous Combustion Internal Engines. The Intake Air is compressed into the Combustion Chamber to provide contsant Oxygen to allow for continuous combution. The combustioon will create enough Energy to spin the turbines and create thrust.

The term Rocket comes from the Italian word ‘Rocchetto’, meaning ‘spool’, due to the shape of the first rockets.

Rockets were originally created as a way to try and propell arrows further using Black Powder.

Charcoal (fuel) Saltpeter/potssuim/sodium nitrate (oxidizer) Sulfur (stablilizer) The Saltpeter help accelerate the combustion process by drawing oxygen into the fuel source directly.