C7 - organic chemistry Flashcards
What is cracking
cracking is the process by which longer chain hydrocarbons are split into shorter, more useful hydrocarbons. Cracking results in an alkane and alkene generally.
Why are the products of cracking useful?
(1) shorter hydrocarbons make better fuels
(2) shorter alkenes can also be used as feedstock to make polymers and detergents in petrochemical industry
What type of reaction is cracking an example of?
A thermal decomposition reaction - i.e breaking down molecules by heating them
What catalyst is used in catalytic cracking?
Hot powdered aluminium oxide
What is the process for catalytic cracking?
(1) First, some long chain alkanes are heated until they vaporise into a gas
(2) Then they’re passed over a hot, powdered aluminium oxide catalyst
(3)This breaks the long chain alkanes into a shorter chain alkane and an alkene
How is steam cracking different to catalytic cracking?
There is no catalyst involved. Instead the vaporised long chain alkane is mixed with steam at very high temperatures.
What are the first 4 alkenes?
2 carbons – ethene
3 carbons – propene
4 carbons – butene
5 carbons – pentene
What are alkenes?
Hydrocarbons with a double bond between the two carbon atoms.
Why is there not an alkene called methene?
Methene would indicate that there is only 1 carbon atom, and so there would not be a carbon - carbon double bond, which means the molecule wouldn’t be an alkene.
Are alkenes saturated?
No. They are unsaturated as they have a carbon - carbon double bond.
What is the general formula for alkenes?
C nH2n
What is the test for alkenes?
- add bromine water
- colour changes from orange —–>colourless if alkenes are present.
Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?
Alkenes have a carbon - carbon double bond, which is very reactive.
What is a functional group?
a group of atoms in a molecule which determine how the molecule reacts
What chemical test can we use to distinguish alkanes and alkenes?
(1) add orange bromine water and shake
(2) if it is a saturated compound like an alkane it will remain orange
(3) if its an unsaturated compound like an alkene is will go colourless.
What type of reaction can a alkene be a part of because of its double bond?
addition reactions
How do addition reactions work?
the carbon - carbon double bond breaks up and and opens up, then a new atom is added to each carbon
What are addition reactions?
when two molecules combine to form a single molecule
What is hydrogenation?
addition of hydrogen to an alkene in the presence of a catalyst. Forms an alkane
How does hydrogenation work?
(addition reaction between an alkene and hydrogen)
(1) an alkene reacts with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst
(2) this gets rid of the double bond, and adds hydrogen to each carbon.
How do alkenes form alcohol?
(addition reaction between alkene and water)
(1) they react with steam (gaseous water at h.temp) in presence of catalyst
(2) this breaks the double bond, hydrogen goes on one side, OH goes on the other.
(3) then we separate the alcohol
What happens with alkenes react with a halogen?
The double bond will break, and each carbon will bond to a halogen atom, produce a halogenoalkane.
Do alkanes tend to undergo complete or incomplete combustion?
alkanes usually combust completely
Do alkenes tend to undergo complete or incomplete combustion?
alkenes often undergo incomplete combustion
What is incomplete combustion?
combustion without sufficient oxygen to react completely
What are the drawbacks of incomplete combustion?
(1) a smoky yellow flame
(2)less energy releases
(3) produces pollutants
What harmful products can be produced by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?
(1) carbon
(2) carbon monoxide
(3) unburnt hydrocarbons.
What is a monomer?
one of the small repeating units that join together to form a larger molecule, known as a polymer.
What is a polymer?
a larger molecule formed from lots of smaller molecules (monomers)
What is polymerisation?
the process by which lots of small molecules(monomers) join together to form a larger molecule (a polymer)
What 2 conditions are usually necessary for polymerisation
(1) high pressure
(2) presence of a catalyst
What are addition polymers formed from?
Addition polymers are former from unsaturated monomers (monomers with double bonds), like alkenes.
How do you name polymers?
Place the same of the monomer in brackets and put the phrase ‘poly’ in front of it.
For example, the polymer of ethene would be ‘poly(ethene)’
What would the polymer of chloropentene be called?
Poly(chloropentene)
How do addition polymers form?
The carbon - carbon double bonds within the monomers break, and allow the two monomer molecules to bond to each other.
What are 3 things to remember when drawing monomers and repeating units?
(1) draw bonds of monomer vertically up and down
(2) have empty bonds go through the bracket in repeating unit
(3) have ‘n’ to signify large number of monomers and repeating units.
What is the general formula for alcohols?
CnH2n+1OH