[171FS]

We have made biodiesel in the school lab. I have to answer some questions.
I have difficulties with this one:
Explain why biodiesel has better physical properties to serve as a fuel than the starting vegetable oil.

Biodiesel: methyl ester of myristic acid, R-COOCH3
Veg. oil: Triglyceride. We used rape-seed oil; the fatty acids are primarily oleic acid ((Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid) and erucuc acid ((Z)-docos-13-enoic acid.

We made the biodiesel through a transesterfication of a triglyceride (veg. oil) with methoxide as a catalyst.

:)

[billnotgatez]

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html

Also check at this site -

http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=7087

http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=4064

http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=5177

[Donaldson Tan]

compare the following:
1. viscousity
2. flash temperature
3. volatility
4. heavy-carbon content

[21901201]

What do you mean by "flash temperature" and "heavy-carbon content "?

And when you say "volatility" do you mean something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound

This is the full-length question:
"(11) Using intermolecular forces, explain why biodiesel has better physical properties to serve as a fuel than the starting vegetable oil (As Rudolf Diesel envisioned, this oil can be used as a fuel but only in warm climates or when the vehicle is modified using equipment to preheat the fuel tank that holds the vegetable oil)."


Ps. I'm 171FS I just can't log-in.

[billnotgatez]

Maybe flash point temperature

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_point