4.7.1.1 Crude oil hydrocarbons and alkanes Flashcards
1
Q
What is crude oil?
A
- A mixture of a very large number of compounds, mainly hydrocarbons
2
Q
How was crude oil made?
A
- Naturally, from the remains of ancient biomass, consisting mainly of plankton that was buried in the mud
- High pressures and temperatures under the ground turned the biomass into crude oil
- As it formed, the crude oil was soaked into the rocks and stored for millions of years
3
Q
How do we get crude oil out of the rocks?
A
- Drill a hole in the rock and suck the crude oil to the surface
4
Q
Is crude oil a finite resource, why?
A
- Crude oil takes so long to form
- If we continue to extract it and use it at the rate we are now then one day we will run out of it completely
5
Q
What is a hydrocarbon?
A
- Any compound that’s formed from hydrogen and carbon only
6
Q
What are alkanes?
A
- The most simple type of hydrocarbon
7
Q
What is the general formula for the homologous series of alkanes?
A
CnH2n+2
8
Q
What are the first four members of the alkanes?
Mad
Elephants
Probably
Bite
A
- Methane
- Ethane
- Propane
- Butane
9
Q
What is a saying to remember the order of the alkanes?
A
Methane = Mad
Ethane = Elephants
Propane = Probably
Butane = Bite
10
Q
What are the formulas for the first four alkanes?
A
- Methane CH4
- Ethane C2H6
- Propane C3H8
- Butane C4H10
11
Q
What do each of the first four alkanes look like?
A
- Methane H
H-C-H
HH H
- Ethane H-C-C-H
H HH H H
- Propane H-C-C-C-H
H H HH H H H
- Butane H-C-C-C-C-H
H H H H
12
Q
What does homologous series mean?
A
- Everything in the series has similar properties and structure, differing only by CH2, so react in a similar way
13
Q
What is a key feature of an alkane?
A
- They are saturated compounds, there are no double bonds
