Alkanes Flashcards
What are hydrocarbons?
Compounds that only contain hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms
What is a homologous series?
Family of organic compounds with the same functional group and general formula, similar chemical reactions and similar trends in physical properties
Features of alkanes homologous series
Same general formula : Cn H2n+2
Carbon atoms are all joined together by single covalent bonds - all alkanes are saturated
Feature or homologous series?
Each successive member increases in size by a CH2 group
How many covalent bonds to carbon and hydrogen atoms have in alkanes?
Carbon atoms form 4 covalent bonds
Hydrogen atoms form 1 covalent bond
Alkanes complete combustion
If there is a plentiful supply of oxygen, complete combustion occurs :
Carbon atoms are oxidised to CO2
Hydrogen atoms oxidised to H2O
Alkanes incomplete combustion
Water is still formed but carbon is only oxidised to form CO (toxic gas to cause suffocation) and some may just b released as carbon particles