Alkanes Flashcards

1
Q

Why can carbon form so many compounds?

A

It can bond with 4 molecules
It can bond with a wide variety of other elements
It can form large structures

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2
Q

Define hydrocarbons

A

An organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms.

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3
Q

Define aliphatic

A

A non-aromatic carbon containing compound with branched, linear or cyclic structure.

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4
Q

Define alicyclic.

A

A carbon containing compound which forms a non-aromatic, branched or unbranched ring in structure.

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5
Q

Define aromatic.

A

A carbon containing compound which includes a benzene ring.

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6
Q

Define saturated.

A

An organic compound that contains no C=C double bonds, and hence cannot hold any more H atoms.

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7
Q

Define unsaturated.

A

An organic compound that contains at least one C=C double bond.

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8
Q

Define homologous series.

A

a series of organic compounds with the same functional group, with each successive member differing by CH2

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9
Q

Define functional group

A

A group of atoms responsible for the characteristics of a compound in a reaction.

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10
Q

Name the first 10 alkanes.

A

Methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane.

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11
Q

Give the general formula of an alkane.

A

CnH(2n+2)

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12
Q

Give the general formula of a cycloalkane

A

CnH2n

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13
Q

Define general formula

A

The algebraic ratio between the numbers of atoms of each element in a homologous series.

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14
Q

Define empirical formula

A

The smallest whole number ratio between the number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

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15
Q

Define molecular formula

A

The actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

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16
Q

Define displayed formula

A

The arrangement of atoms in a compound in space, including the bonds.

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17
Q

Define structural formula

A

The atoms in a molecule ordered with regards to their position within the molecule to give the complete structure of a molecule as simply as possible.

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18
Q

Define skeletal formula

A

The minimalist representation of the structure of molecules, showing carbon atoms as corners, and not showing hydrogen atoms.

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19
Q

What is an alkyne?

A

A hydrocarbon containing a triple C C bond.

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20
Q

Give the functional group and naming of an alkane.

A

C-C single bond.

-ane

21
Q

Give the functional group and naming of an alkene.

A

C=C double bond.

-ene

22
Q

Give the functional group and naming of a haloalkane.

A

-Cl, -Br, -I

chloro-, bromo-, iodo-

23
Q

Give the functional group and naming of an alcohol.

A

-OH

hydroxy- or -ol

24
Q

Give the functional group and naming of an aldehyde

A
  • CHO (Oxygen attached to end of molecule by double bond)

- al

25
Q

Give the functional group and naming of a ketone

A
  • C(CO)C- (Oxygen attached to middle of molecule by double bond)
  • one
26
Q

Give the functional group and naming of a carboxylic acid

A
  • COOH (Oxygen double bond and -OH group on the last C atom)

- oic acid

27
Q

How do you find the stem of an organic compound name.

A

Based on the number of carbon atoms in the parent chain (the longest carbon chain).
eg. 6 carbons= hex-

28
Q

What is an alkyl side group?

A

A carbon chain which comes off the parent chain.

29
Q

How are alkyl chains named on organic compounds?

A

According to their length, with a prefix (eg. di, tri, tetra) to indicate the number of the same type of side chain, and a number to indicate the position of the side chain on the molecule.

30
Q

How should side groups be numbered when naming organic compounds?

A

In order of the significance of the functional groups, but keeping the numbers as low as possible.

31
Q

In what order should side groups be listed when naming compounds?

A

Alphabetical order.

32
Q

In what order should side groups be numbered when naming compounds?

A

Carboxylic acids, amides and esters, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, amines, halogens.

33
Q

What is a structural isomer?

A

A compound with the same molecular formula but a different structural formula.

34
Q

What is VSEPR theory?

A

Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory is a model to consider bond angles in molecules based on the number of lone and and bonding pairs of electrons around an atom.

35
Q

Describe the effect of branching on the boiling point of a molecule.

A

The more branched a molecule is, the fewer points of contact it has with surrounding molecules and therefore the weaker the London forces are. Weaker intermolecular forces take less energy to break and so give a lower boiling point.

36
Q

Describe the intermolecular bonding in alkanes.

A

Alkanes are simple, non-polar, covalent molecules, so contain only relatively weak instantaneous dipole force.

37
Q

What are the products of complete combustion of alkanes?

A

Water and carbon dioxide.

38
Q

What are the potential products of incomplete combustion of alkanes?

A

Water and carbon monoxide, or water and carbon.

39
Q

What visual observations can be made during incomplete combustion?

A

A yellow flame and the production of soot (carbon).

40
Q

Under what conditions do alkanes with react halogens?

A

In the presence of UV light.

41
Q

What is a radical?

A

An atom or species with an unpaired electron. Radicals are extremely reactive.

42
Q

What is radical substitution?

A

The mechanism by which alkanes react with halogens to produce haloalkanes, by substituting halogen radicals for hydrogen atoms.

43
Q

Name the three stages of radical substitution.

A

1) Initiation
2) Propagation
3) Termination

44
Q

Describe the role of UV light in radical substitution.

A

UV light provides the energy for a diatomic halogen atom to split apart, forming two halogen radicals:
X2 —> 2X•

45
Q

Describe the initiation stage of radical substitution.

A

A halogen atom splits to form two radicals in a process called homolytic fission
eg. Br2 —> 2Br•

46
Q

Describe the propagation stage of radical substitution.

A

A radical reacts with a stable compound, to give a new radical and a new stable molecule:
eg.
CH4 + Br• —> •CH3 + HBr
•CH3 + Br2 —-> Br• + CH3Br

47
Q

Describe the termination step of radical substitution

A
Two radicals react to give a single, stable molecule:
eg.
2Br• ----> Br2
2•CH3----> C2H6
Br• + •CH3 ----> CH3Br
48
Q

Define homolytic fission

A

When a covalent bond between two particles breaks apart and each particle takes one of the bonding electrons to form two radicals.

49
Q

What are the issues with the process of radical substitution in producing a desired product.

A

It is impossible to control
It produces many different waste products, potentially including dihaloalkanes, alkanes with twice the original chain length, and halogen groups in various positions on the carbon chain.