--- title: Understanding the Chemistry in Your Car description: A carefully-engineered system of chemical reactions is what makes your car run. Here's a bird's-eye view looking at the chemistry in your car. image: https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/Understanding%20the%20Chemistry%20in%20Your%20Car.jpeg --- [(210) 691-2000](tel:+1-210-691-2000) [![Logo2](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo2.png?width=300&height=124&name=Logo2.png "Logo2")](http://noahchemicals.com) - [Home](https://noahtech.com/) - [Products](https://noahtech.com/products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Home](https://noahtech.com) - [Product Search](https://noahtech.com/products) - [Our Products](https://noahtech.com/our-products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Mission Statement](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [News & Blog](https://noahtech.com/blog) - [Resources](https://noahtech.com/about-us/resources) - [Newsletter](https://info.noahtech.com/newsletter) - [Custom Manufacturing](https://noahtech.com/about-us/custom-manufacturing) - [FAQs](https://noahtech.com/about-us/faqs) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Special Request Form](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support?_ga=2.105203267.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) - [OpenCart Footer](https://noahtech.com/oc-footer) - [Quality Assurance](https://noahtech.com/quality-assurance) - [Credit Application](https://noahtech.com/credit-application) - [Thank you](https://noahtech.com/credit-application/thank-you) - [Privacy](https://noahtech.com/privac) - [Sitemap](https://noahtech.com/sitemap) - [Request a Quote](https://noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Landing page](https://noahtech.com/landing-page) - [Industries](https://noahtech.com/industries-1) [Request a Quote](https://noahchemicals.com/request-a-quote/) [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote?_ga=2.40772194.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) ![banner](https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/NoahTech_April2020/img/banner.jpg) # Understanding the Chemistry in Your Car Diane Milner Apr 3, 2017 10:27:00 AM ![Understanding the Chemistry in Your Car.jpeg](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Understanding%20the%20Chemistry%20in%20Your%20Car.jpeg?width=750&height=422&name=Understanding%20the%20Chemistry%20in%20Your%20Car.jpeg) The over [one billion](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/08/23/car-population_n_934291.html) automobiles in existence owe much of their functionality to basic chemical reactions. In the U.S. alone there are over [250,000,000 cars](http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ihs-automotive-average-age-car-20140609-story.html) in operation, a vast majority of which were built in the last 15 years. The chemical processes behind moving vehicles are simpler than you think. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on under the hood. **Fuel Injection** Without an injection of fuel to a vehicle’s engine, it won’t run. There are several different types of [fuel injection](https://www.howacarworks.com/basics/how-a-fuel-injection-system-works) including direct injection, sequential, single-point, and multi-point, among others. Most engines are fed when pressurized, atomized fuel vapor is distributed to their cylinders. From there, a spark ignites the fuel atoms themselves – typically comprised of **petroleum** that’s been enhanced with stabilizing additives – causing the gasses to combust. This combustion causes the molecules to expand and, most importantly, to release heat. **Chemical Cooling Systems** Nearly all modern vehicles use a [system of liquid cooling](http://ed.ted.com/lessons/under-the-hood-the-chemistry-of-cars-cynthia-chubbuck) to keep temperatures in the engine block stable. As the engine puts off heat, a network of tubes filled with coolant syphon heat from the surrounding air. What kind of coolant works best? Ideal cooling liquids must have a high relative boiling point as well as a low freezing point; today, an ethylene glycol + water solution is the most commonly-used commercial coolant. (Ethylene glycol is colloquially known as “antifreeze”.) Generally, a 1/1 solution of **(CH₂OH)₂** and **H₂O** provides a good balance of cold-tolerance and heat-resistance, but in extremely cold climates a [higher concentration](http://www.carparts.com/classroom/coolingsystem.htm) of ethylene glycol is advisable. **Electric Battery Packs** Electric vehicles use a completely different chemical process than traditional fuel injection systems. Battery packs for electric cars are becoming increasingly dense with energy, and today’s most cutting-edge versions are made using **lithium-ions**. There are several different [kinds of electric batteries](http://www.afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_batteries.html) commercially available, though, including **lead-acid**, **nickel metal hydrides**, and **molten salt**. Chemical solutions are underway to make electric battery packs safer and more stable, including the addition of **silicon** to batteries’ anodes. Automotive chemistry is undergoing a significant shift as more and more electric vehicles hit the road. [Noah Chemicals](https://noahchemicals.com/) is a proud supplier of high-purity chemicals used in both the production and research of automotive components. **For more information on how Noah Chemicals products can complement your project, reach out to one of our full-time chemists today.** [Contact Us Today!](https://www.noahchemicals.com/contact-us) For custom ordering, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/special-request-form). To request a quote, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/request-a-quote). For general questions and concerns, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/customer-support). [Here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/about-noah?tab=--faq--) are our FAQs.   [Automotive Chemistry](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/topic/automotive-chemistry) ## Read On ### [Understanding the Chemistry in Your Car The over one billion automobiles in existence owe much of their functionality to basic chemical...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/the-chemistry-in-your-car-0) ### [A Field Guide to the Chemicals In Your Car Battery Car batteries use chemical reactions to produce electric currents. The typical car battery is far...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/car-battery-chemicals-guide) ### [A Field Guide to the Chemicals In Your Car Battery Car batteries use chemical reactions to produce electric currents. The typical car battery is far...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/car-battery-chemicals-guide-0) ![](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/May%202021%20-%20new%20images/tri-icon.png?width=100&name=tri-icon.png) ### QUALITY MATTERS Noah Technologies Corporation is committed to continually improving all of our processes and services. We do this in order to provide quality inorganic and specialty chemicals to our customers so that we exceed their requirements. 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