Alkanes

Question 1

What’s the brief summary of alkanes?

Answer 1

• Contain single C-C covalent bonds
• General formula is C(n)H(2n+n)
• End in -ane
• Simplest example is methane
• Are saturated (no more hydrogen atoms can be added to their molecules)

Question 2

What happens when an alkane is cracked?

Answer 2

They can get cracked by heat and/or a catalyst, and they are broken down into smaller compounds. When they’re cracked into two compounds, one compound will not be an alkane.

Question 3

Describe complete combustion

Answer 3

• Blue flame
• Lots of oxygen
• Clean and efficient
• Very hot

General equation:
Fuel + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Question 4

Describe incomplete combustion

Answer 4

• Yellow flame
• Limited oxygen
• Unclean and inefficient
• Not very hot

General equation:
Fuel + (limited)O2 → CO + H2O + C

Question 5

Explain chlorination/bromination

Answer 5

The hydrogen and bromine/chlorine play a swapping game, where the substitute into another molecule to form a different product. The reaction is caused due to UV and cannot occur without it. Only one substitution can occur at a time.

Question 6

What happens to halogens when they’re added to alkanes?

Answer 6

Their suffix becomes -o

Question 7

What is it called when a halogen is added to an alkane?

Answer 7

A haloalkane

Question 8

What is formed when an alkane is oxidised?

Answer 8

An alcohol