A project by Adam Seering
This project explains what octane is as a chemical and how it affects
gasoline, and what effect this has on the consumer.
We've all seen the signs at the gas pump showing the different
kinds of octane.
So what is the difference between the different kinds? And
what is that number anyway? Is it percent? What does it measure?
This site intends to answer these questions:
There is also a bibliography
of all of the sources that were used as sources of information for this
project, as well as a list of common misunderstandings
that can be clarified using information gained by this project.
If you don't understand how a gasoline engine works, click
here
for a description; knowledge of how a gasoline engine works is necesary
to understand the effects of octane.
There is a calculator here that determines how many mL of gasoline a car uses to accelerate
to a given speed.
Here is a link to the essay portion of this assignment.
Note that to view this, you need an XML-capable browser, specifically new versions of
Internet Explorer (some versions of Netscape may also work).
Note: to view all media on this site, it is necesary to download the free
Web browser browser plug-ins 'MDL Chime' and 'Macromedia Flash'.
MDL Chime allows you to view 3D molecular models. Download it here. Macromedia Flash allows you to
view large, complex animations; in this site, it is used to demonstrate the chemical reactions involved in burning and spontaneously combusting the primary components of gasoline.
Download it here.