The Efficency and Energy Storage of 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% Ethanol Concentrations In Gasoline

School Name

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Chemistry

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

2nd Place

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment is to determine how much energy different concentrations of ethanol in gasoline store and how efficient 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% concentrations of ethanol are. The hypothesis of this experiment is that if 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% concentrations of ethanol in gasoline (by volume) are tested against pure gasoline, then they will be less efficient and store less energy. To begin the experiment, 3 mL of each concentration, poured into the crucible under the 250 mL beaker, and the temperature of the water was taken before and after testing. The concentration was lit and burned, the burn time was recorded. Three trials per concentration were run. The average change in temperature was calculated, and from this the number of calories per concentration was calculated. From the calorimetry data, there was not a clear pattern of what was occurring.40 mL of each concentration were poured into a lawn mower, and the time each concentration ran in the lawn mower was recorded. The lawn mower running times did show that the pure gasoline was most efficient with a running time of 4.54, and that the 100% ethanol concentration was least efficient because the lawn mower would not start. The part of the hypothesis stating that the ethanol concentrations will be less efficient than gasoline was proven true, but the part of energy production was inconclusive.

Location

Founders Hall 111 A

Start Date

3-30-2019 8:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 30th, 8:30 AM

The Efficency and Energy Storage of 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% Ethanol Concentrations In Gasoline

Founders Hall 111 A

The purpose of this experiment is to determine how much energy different concentrations of ethanol in gasoline store and how efficient 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% concentrations of ethanol are. The hypothesis of this experiment is that if 0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% concentrations of ethanol in gasoline (by volume) are tested against pure gasoline, then they will be less efficient and store less energy. To begin the experiment, 3 mL of each concentration, poured into the crucible under the 250 mL beaker, and the temperature of the water was taken before and after testing. The concentration was lit and burned, the burn time was recorded. Three trials per concentration were run. The average change in temperature was calculated, and from this the number of calories per concentration was calculated. From the calorimetry data, there was not a clear pattern of what was occurring.40 mL of each concentration were poured into a lawn mower, and the time each concentration ran in the lawn mower was recorded. The lawn mower running times did show that the pure gasoline was most efficient with a running time of 4.54, and that the 100% ethanol concentration was least efficient because the lawn mower would not start. The part of the hypothesis stating that the ethanol concentrations will be less efficient than gasoline was proven true, but the part of energy production was inconclusive.