Gasoline (petrol)
3 marks · NormalExplain why gasoline (petrol) is a suitable fuel for use in motor vehicles.
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Must show: Gasoline is a liquid hydrocarbon fuel that can be easily stored and transported in vehicles., It vaporises easily, allowing it to mix well with air for efficient combustion in car engines., Gasoline releases a large amount of energy when burned, making it suitable for powering vehicles.
Also accept: Gasoline ignites readily in engines, producing sufficient power.; It is widely available and used in infrastructure.; It burns cleanly with sufficient oxygen, reducing engine problems.
Common mistakes: Describing uses of other fuels instead of gasoline; Vague answers that do not refer to energy release or how it works in engines
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · States that gasoline is a liquid hydrocarbon and easy to store/transport.
B2 · 1 mark · Explains that gasoline vaporises readily and mixes well with air for combustion.
B3 · 1 mark · States that burning gasoline releases a large amount of energy for powering vehicles.
Worked solution
Gasoline is a liquid hydrocarbon mixture that is easy to store in a vehicle's fuel tank and to transport.
It vaporises easily, which allows it to mix with air and burn efficiently in a car engine.
When gasoline burns, it releases a large amount of energy, providing the power needed to move the vehicle.