(a) What is a fuel ? Give five examples of fuels.
(b) What are the characteristics of an ideal fuel (or good fuel) ?
(c ) The calorific value and ignition temperature of fuel A are 55 kJ/g and `80^(@)C`, respectively. These values for fuel B are 80 kJ/g and `10^(@)C`, respectively. On burning, the fuel A produces `CO_(2)` and `H_(2)O` while the fuel B produces `CO_(2), CO` and `SO_(2)`. Give three points of relative advantages and disadvantages of these two fuels.

Answer

(c ) Fuel A (i) Lower calorific value of 55 kJ/g (Disadvantage) (ii) Moderate ignition temperature of `80^(@)C` (Advantage) (iii) No harmful gases produced (Advantages); Fuel B (i) High calorific value of 80 kJ/g (Advantage) (ii) Very low ignition temperature of `10^(@)C` (Disadvantages) (iii) Harmful gases like CO and `SO_(2)` produced (Disadvantages)