đŸ”´đŸ”¸2.5 -hydrocarbons Flashcards
What is a fossil fuel
A fuel that is derived from organisms that lived long ago
What is a non-renewable resource
A resource that can’t be reformed in a reasonable timescale
What is a greenhouse gas
A gas that causes an increase in the earths temperature
Name some examples of fossil fuels
Natural gas, petroleum and coal
Name some advantages of using fossil fuels
1) available in a variety of forms allowing the type of fuel to be matched to its use e.g coal in power stations
2) can be split into fractions for varied uses e.g petroleum
3) available at all time, some green sources e.g solar and wind have limited availability
Name the disadvantages of fossil fuels
1) non renewable, formation of fossil fuels takes millions of years and reserves are being used faster than those formed
2) combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide which causes global warming and climate change
3) acid rain formation
4) formation of carbon monoxide
How does carbon dioxide cause climate change
Carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation from the earths surface and emits it in all directions, some goes back to the earths surface causing an increase in surface temperature
Name 2 problems caused by global warming
Rising sea levels
Changes to crop suitability
Acid rain
Carbon monoxide formation
How is nitric acid in acid rain formed
N2 (g) + O2 (g) —> 2NO (g)
2NO (g) + O2 (g) —> 2NO2 (g)
2NO2 (g) + H2O (l) —> HNO3 (g) + HNO2 (aq)
Name 3 greenhouse gases present In the atmosphere
Water
Carbon dioxide
Methane
How is sulfuric acid formed which is present in acid rain
H2O (l) + SO2 (g) —> H2SO3 (aq)
H2SO3 (aq) + 1/2O2 (g) —> H2SO4 (aq)
What damage do sulfuric acid and nitric acid in acid rain cause?
Damage to buildings especially those containing calcium carbonate
Lower pH of lakes/rivers harming aquatic life e.g fish
Damage trees/forests
Describe how fossil fuels lead to an increase in carbon monoxide
When fossil fuels aren’t burnt in excess oxygen incomplete combustion occurs forming Carbon monoxide.
CO is toxic as it binds with haemoglobinin blood so that it is not available to carry oxygen around the body
Non health related problem of carbon monoxide
Incomplete combustion is less efficient than combustion e.g a car would achieve fewer miles per litre of fuel
What is the general formula for the homologous series of alkanes
CnH(2n+2)
What is the difference between each consecutive member of the homologous series of alkanes
CH2
Do all alkanes have similar chemical reactions?
Yes as they are all saturated hydrocarbons
What states do small, larger and large alkanes have at room temperature?
Small alkanes are gases at room temp (methane), larger ones are liquids (petrol) and larger ones are solids (wax candles)
Why are alkanes non polar?
Non polar since the electronegatives of carbon and hydrogen are similar
Are alkanes reactive? What exceptions
Generally unreactive as they have no double bonds
-two important reactions = combustion and Halogenation
Define complete combustion
Combustion that occurs in excess oxygen
Define incomplete combustion
Combustion that occurs in insufficient oxygen
Is combustion exothermic or endothermic?
Exothermic as it involves a release of energy into its surroundings
What are the products of complete combustion
Carbon dioxide and water
What are the products of incomplete combustion
Carbon monoxide and water
Can sometimes form carbon as seen in black smoke from an engine
What is halogenation?
A reaction with any halogen
What is initiation
The reaction that starts the process of halogenation
What is homolytic bond fission
When a bond is broken and each of the bonded atoms receives one of the bonded electrons
What is a radical
A species with an unpaired electron