Hydrocarbons

Question 1

What are hydrocarbons?

Answer 1

Organic compounds only containing hydrogen and carbon

Question 2

What are the three types of hydrocarbons?

Answer 2

Alkanes
Alkenes
Alkynes

Question 3

Are hydrocarbons polar or non-polar?

Answer 3

Non-polar

Question 4

What are the physical states of hydrocarbons?

Answer 4

Solids
Liquids
Gases

Question 5

What is the odour like?

Answer 5

Solid and liquid hydrocarbons have strong characteristic smells

Question 6

What are the melting and boiling points like?

Answer 6

They are low because of the weak bonds between molecules which mean that little heat energy is required to separate the molecules (they change states easily)

Question 7

What is the solubility like?

Answer 7

They are insoluble in water and only form very weak intermolecular bonds with water molecules

Question 8

What is the density like?

Answer 8

They have densities less than water and can float on water

Question 9

Can they conduct electricity?

Answer 9

They are non-conductors of electricity because electrons cannot pass from molecule to molecule, so they can’t carry charge. However, they are very good insulators.

Question 10

How does size affect the melting and boiling points?

Answer 10

The smaller the molecules (especially alkanes), the lower the melting and boiling points will be, as less energy is required to break the bonds