Question

List two factors that would help you decide which hydrocarbon fuel to use in a particular application

Answer 1

The answer is;

1. Melting and boiling points
2. Unit energy output

These properties are dependent on the chemical composition of the varying hydrocarbons. Coal is a hydrocarbon used in some applications due to its solid nature at room temperatures. The branching of hydrocarbon (cyclic or chain) also determines the energy output on combustion. Gasoline burns more energy than paraffin