Question

Power alcohol is:
(A) Absolute alcohol : Petrol (20 : 80)
(B) Absolute alcohol : Petrol (80 : 20)
(C) Rectified spirit : Benzene (20 : 80)
(D) Rectified spirit : Benzene (80 : 20)

Answer 1

Hint: Power alcohol is a type of fuel. So, it contains materials that can easily undergo combustion reaction. Power alcohol is used in some types of automobiles as a fuel.

Complete Step-by-Step answer:
Power alcohol is the mixture of absolute alcohol and petrol.
In fuel engines, various types of fuels are used. Alcohol is also added with petrol in some amounts in order to get some benefits. When Absolute alcohol and Petrol (20 : 80) mixture is used, the mixture is called power alcohol. So, it is used as a fuel in automobiles. Power alcohol has a good anti-knocking property and its octane number is 90 which is very good.
It contains 20% absolute alcohol and 80% petrol.

So, option (A) Absolute alcohol : Petrol (20 : 80) is the correct answer.

Additional Information:
Let’s see why absolute alcohol is added to petrol to make power alcohol.
a) Ethyl alcohol can easily be produced by fermentation processes and other many such processes. It is obtained as a side product in many reactions as well. And on the other hand, petrol is obtained from crude oils and as we know that is a limited source of energy, prices of them are also very high. Crude oils are not found everywhere. That’s why the addition of absolute alcohol will make fuel cheaper.
b) As power alcohol also contains oxygen atoms, it helps the engine to make complete combustion of petrol and reduces the production of harmful CO gas.

Note: Do not consider absolute alcohol to be the main constituent of power alcohol as the name involves the word ‘alcohol’. Benzene is present in power alcohol in just trace quantities. So, do not get conflicted by that fact.