alkanes Flashcards
is an alkane saturated or unsaturated? and are they reactive?
saturated, no
explain the polarity of an alkane? and therefore the forces that act
almost non polar because electronegativity of C and H are very similar so its only van Der Waals forces that act
explain the B.P.T trends of an alkane?
as chain length increases, b.p.t increases due to stronger van der waals forces which take more energy to break
explain how does branching affect the b.p.t?
more branching = lower b.p.t because unlike straight chians, they cant pack as clos together so van der waals forces arn’t as effective
explain the solubility of an alkane?
insoluble in water because water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds which are much stronger than van der waals and alkanes cant form hydrogen bonds
what is the reactivity of an alkane?
reletivly unreactive because the bonds they make are strong so takes a lot of energy to break
what is crude oil?
it is a fossil feul that forms very slowly from break down of organic remains under hight pressure and temperature. there are aa mixture of different length hydrocarbons
explain where in the fractionating column longer hydrocarbons are collected?
at the base because they have a higher b.p.t and the base is the hottest
explain where on the fractionating colunm shorter hydrocarbons are collected?
near the top becasuse shorter hydrocarbons have a lower b.p.t and this is where the temperature is the coolest
when will hydrocarbons condense in the fractionating column?
they will rise until they hit a tray cooler than their b.p.t
what is a fraction ?
a mixture of hydrocarbons of similar chain length and therefore similar properties
how could acid rain form when burning crude oil?
crude oil could contain other compounds from the specimen they originated from, if sulfur is present when burned it will form sulfur dioxide, this reacts with oxygen in the air to form sulfur trioxide which will react with water in atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (acid rain)
write the equation for acid rain formation from sulfur
S+O2 —> SO2
2SO2 + O2 —–> 2SO3
SO3 + H2O ——> H2SO4
explain the type of process that fractional distillation is?
a physical process because no covalent bonds are brocken, it is only van der waals forces that are broken and reformed when heated and condensing
what are the 2 types of craking?
thermal and catalytic