C7: Hydrocarbons

Question 1

What is a hydrocarbon?

Answer 1

Any compound that is formed from only hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Question 2

What are alkanes?

Answer 2

Simplest kind of hydrocarbon.
1 covalent bond.
A homologous series - group of organic compounds that react in a similar way
Saturated compounds - each carbon atom forms four covalent bonds

Question 3

What is the general formula for alkanes?

Answer 3

H2n+2

n=number of carbons

Question 4

What are the first four alkanes and their formulas?

Answer 4

Methane = CH4
Ethane = C2H6
Propane = C3H8
Butane = C4H10

Question 5

What are the properties of short chain hydrocarbons?

Answer 5

Less viscous
More volatile - lower boiling point
More flammable

Question 6

What are the properties of long chain hyrdrocarbons?

Answer 6

High boiling point
More viscous
Less flammable

Question 7

Explain complete combustion.

Answer 7

Releases lots of energy
Only waste products = CO2+water
Both carbon and hydrogen for the hydrocarbon are oxidised

Hydrocarbons are used as fuel bc of the amount of energy released when they combust completely.