C7 Organic chemistry Flashcards
What is crude oil made from ?
Crude oil is the remains of an ancient biomass consisting mainly of plankton that was buried
in mud.
Crude oil is finite, what does finite mean ?
Finite means that when it is used up it takes millions of years to be replaced.
What is a hydrocarbon ?
A compound made from hydrogen and Carbon only.
What is the general formula of an alkane.
The general formula for the homologous series of alkanes
is CnH2n+2
Draw the displayed formula for methane.
See diagram

What is the formula for butane
C4H10
What are the names of the 1st 4 alkanes ?
methane, ethane, propane and butane.
The many hydrocarbons in crude oil may be separated into fractions, by which process ?
Fractional distillation
The many hydrocarbons in crude oil may be separated into fractions, what do the fractions have in common ?.
Each fraction contains molecules with a similar number of carbon atoms,
What useful materials can the fractions be processed into ?
The fractions can be processed to produce fuels and feedstock for the petrochemical industry.
Name 4 fuels which can be produced from crude oil ?
Many of the fuels on which we depend for our modern lifestyle, such as petrol, diesel oil, kerosene, heavy fuel oil and liquefied
petroleum gases, are produced from crude oil.
Explain how fractional distillation works
in terms of evaporation and condensation.
The crudeoil gets heated till the boiling point of the 1st fraction is reached. The temperature remains constant until that fraction has evaporated. The fraction once evaporated comes off as a gas and is then cooled down ( condensed) and collected as a liquid. This process continues until all the fractions have been collected.
What is it about a hydrocarbon that affects it’s boiling point ?
The chain length
How is energy released from fuels ?
The combustion of hydrocarbon fuels releases energy.
What are the products of combustion ?
During combustion, the carbon and hydrogen in the fuels are oxidised. The complete combustion of a hydrocarbon produces carbon dioxide
and water.
How does the boiling points , viscosity and m flammability of alkanes change as the chainlength increases ?
Boiling point, and viscosity increases as we increase the chainlength. The flammability decreases as we increase the chain length of the alkanes.
Why are alkanes cracked ?
Hydrocarbons can be broken down (cracked) to produce smaller, more useful molecules.
What are 2 methods used for cracking alkanes ?
Cracking can be done by various methods including catalytic cracking and steam cracking.
What are the products of cracking alkanes ?
short chain
alkanes and another type of hydrocarbon called alkenes.
What is the test for an alkene ?
Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes and react with bromine water, which is used as a test for alkenes.
When Bromine water is added to alkenes what observations are made.
The bromine water changes from orange to colourless.
What are used to make Polymers ?
Alkenes are used to produce polymers and as starting materials for the production of many other chemicals.
Write an equation for the cracking of C16H34
Any answer is correct as long as smaller alkanes are made and alkenes are in the product. The number of carbons and hydrogens must be the same on both sides of the equation.
Higher tier
What is the general formuila for an alkene ?
Alkenes are hydrocarbons with a double carbon-carbon bond. The general formula for the homologous series of alkenes is CnH2n