Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What are fossil fuels?
Formed over millions of years from dead plants and animals. Crude oil, peat, lignite and natural gas are all examples of fossil fuels.
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound or molecule that consists of ONLY hydrogen and carbon.
What are renewable resources?
Continuously supplied by nature as they are used by consumers. The main renewable resources are hydroelectric, wind, waves and solar energy.
What are non renewable resources?
Fuels that are finite and once used up they cannot be replaced.
What is fractional distillation?
A continual process of evaporation and condensation. The fractioning column works continuously with heated crude oil piped in at the bottom and various fractions being constantly tapped off at different levels where they condense. The bottom is warmer than the top.
What products are made from crude oil through fractional distillation?
Refinery gas:
Used for gas ovens, LPG, GAZ chemicals.
Petrol (gasoline):
Petrol for vehicles, chemicals.
Naphtha:
Chemical plastics.
Paraffin (kerosine):
Heating, jet engines, chemicals.
Diesel oils:
Fuel for Diesel engines.
Fuel oil and lubricating oil:
Fuel for ships, factories, central heating, lubricants and waxes.
Tar (bitumen):
Roofing, waterproofing, asphalt on roads.
What is cracking?
The breakdown of larger saturated hydrocarbon molecules (alkanes) into smaller more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated (alkenes)
How many covalent bonds is carbon capable of?
4
What is a homologous series?
A family of organic compounds where members have:
-The same general formula
-Show similar chemical properties
-Show a graduation of their physical properties
-Successive members differ by a CH2 unit
What are chemical properties?
Reactions
What are physical properties?
Melting/boiling points, appearance, densities, etc.
What is a saturated compound?
Contains no C=C bonds
What is a functional group?
A reactive group in a molecule.
What is the general formula for Alkanes?
CnH2n+2
(n,2 & + should be written in small text)
Name the first four alkanes and give their molecular structure + structural formula
Methane CH4
Ethane C2H6
Propane C3H8
Butane C4H10
(For structural formula see notes p7)
What is combustion?
The reaction in which a flame reacts with oxygen producing oxides and releasing heat.
Give the word and symbol equation for complete combustion.
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen -> Carbon Dioxide + Water + (energy)
CH4 + 2O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O
Give the word and symbol equation for incomplete combustion.
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen -> Carbon Monoxide + Water + (energy)
2CH4 + 3O2 -> 2CO + 4H2O
What is bond-breaking?
Involves pulling atoms apart which requires energy, thus this process is endothermic.