C.4 Solar energy Key 1. Atriglyceride can be prepared from the esterification reaction between propane-1,2,3-triol (glycerol) and palmitic acid. The structure of palmitic acid is given in Section 34 of the data booklet. {a) State the equation for the formation of this triglyceride. H)C-OH HyC-0-CO-(CHa):4CH3 HGOH + 3CHs(CH2):COOH = HCO-CO-(CH2)uCHs + 3H,0 H2C-OH Ha€-0-CO-(CH2)11CHs (b) Explain why vegetable oils, such as the triglyceride above, cannot be used as diesel fuel Because of their high molar masses they are too involatile for use as diesel fuel. (c) Vegetable oils can be converted into biodiesel by transesterification. Deduce the equation for the transesterification of the triglyceride above with excess methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide. HaG O-CO-{CHz)iaCHs H.C-OH HG. 0-CO-(CHs)1sCHs + 3CH3OH = HG-OH + 3CH:0-CO-(CHy):«CHs H2C- O-CO-(CH2) «CH HaC-OH {d) Explain the function of the sodium hydroxide. [ Itacts as a catalyst (ie. it provides a reaction pathway with a lower activation energy). (e) Suggest why excess methanol is used in the transesterification reaction. To increase the yield of transester by shifting the position of equilibrium towards the product side. 2. Ethanol can be prepared by fermenting a solution of glucose, CcH:.0: with yeast. {a) State the equation for this reaction. CoH 206. 2CHsOH + 2CO2(b) Explain why this method of producing ethanol will only give a solution of ethanol with a concentration of about 15% and describe how pure ethanol can be obtained from this solution, The enzyme in the yeast (zymase) responsible for the fermentation is destroyed when the alcohol concentration exceeds about 15%. Fractional distillation can be used to obtain 96% pure alcohol. (To obtain 100% pure ethanol the 4% of water needs to be removed with a drying agent, such as anhydrous magnesium sulfate) 3. (a) Compare the specific energy (in ki kg") of octane with the specific energy of ethanol (The relevant enthalpies of combustion and atomic masses can be found in th€data bookle Octave: 40005 x lee x Suro) _ 4; Webs ——- Y.I9KOTY elf}: /oov4x tithe x aera = a.97 x04 An.29x007 Zar e 16! fh {b) Suggest two advantages that ethanol has over gasoline (petrol) as a fuel for cars. Ethanol is not a fossil fuel so is replaceable. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants so when ethanol is burned there is no net increase of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere, so it does not contribute to global warming. 4. The structure of chlorophyll is given in Section 35 of the data booklet. (a) Identify the structural feature of the chlorophyll molecule that explains why it is able to absorb visible light. The extensive conjugation (alternate double and single bonds). {b) Explain why leaves of plants are green. Chlorophyll absorbs light in both the low (red) and high (blue) regions of the visible spectrum so transmits green light, which lies in the middle of the visible spectrum. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of chloraphyll is shown below. 100 ‘Absorption (%) Wavelength (rim)