Alkanes Flashcards
General formula alkanes
CnH2n+2
Alkanes
Contain single carbon-carbon bonds only
How many bonding pairs of electrons is each carbon atoms in an alkane surrounded by
4
What is the shape and bond angle around a carbon atom in an alkane
Tetrahedral
109.5
Structural isomers
Compounds with the same molecular formula but a different structural formula
Cycloalkanes have…
Two less hydrogen atoms than the open chain alkane and are names according to the largest ring
Explain the polarity of alkanes
C and H- similar electronegativities- non-polar bonds
Neighbouring molecules attracted to each other by VDWs- weak intermolecular forces
Why are alkanes not soluble in water
Water molecules held together by hydrogen bonds which are stronger than VDWs in alkanes
What is the correlation between length of carbon chain and boiling point of the alkabe
As length or carbon chain increases, boiling point of alkane increases
Why does boiling point increase with length of carbon chain
More electrons- VDWs stronger- require more energy to break
What is the correlation between number of branches and boiling point
As number of branches increase boiling point decreases
Why does boiling point decreases as more branches are added
Fewer points of contact between molecules- VDWs weaker- require less energy to break
Crude oil
A mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons- main source of fuels and petrochemicals
Fractional distillation
The separation of the components of a liquid into fractions which differ in boiling point
Each fraction is a group of…
Compounds that have similar boiling points and are removed at the same level
What happens to boiling points as you go up the column
They decrease
Process of fractional distillation
- crude oil vaporised- vapour introduced at bottom of column
- vapour rises and creates temp gradient
- alkanes have different boiling points so condense at different levels- fractions collected
- hydrocarbons with lowest boiling points don’t condense and are drawn off as gases at top of tower
- largest hydrocarbons don’t vaporise and are collected at base of tower as thick residue
what is the issue with crude oil
demand for shorter chain hydrocarbons doesn’t match abundancies in crude oil
how are the issues with crude oil solved
longer, less useful alkanes converted into more useful molecules through cracking
two types of cracking
thermal and catalytic
what conditions is thermal cracking carried out under
very high temp and pressure
what does thermal cracking produce
alkanes and a high percentage of alkenes
why can thermal cracking create a mixture of products
c-c bonds break at different positions in the chain
what can the products of thermal cracking be used for
to make polymers
under what conditions is catalytic cracking carried out
high temp, slight pressure and in presence of a zeolite