Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
A hydrocarbon that contains no carbon-carbon double bond and only contains single bonds
What is a hydrocarbon?
A molecule that contains only carbon and hydrogen
How and why does the boiling point of alkanes change as the chain length increases?
- As chain length increases, the boiling point increases
- Alkanes have induced dipole-dipoles between molecules
- Strenght of attraction increases with increasing size of molecule and no. of electrons
- The longer the chain, the bigger the molecule and the more electrons
Why does the boiling point of alkanes decrease with more branches?
- There is more surface contact between unbranched molecules than branched molecules
- Therefore stronger IDDs between unbranched molecules
What is fractional distillation?
Seperating a mixture of compounds based on boiling points
What is a fraction?
A group of hydrocarbons with similar boiling points
Explain the process of fractional distillation
- Crude oil is heated up and vapourised as it enters column at the bottom
- Hydrocarbons have different boiling points deoending on chain length and branches
- Column is hotter at the bottom
- The larger molecules condense first
What is the purpose of cracking?
To break longer, less useful hydricabons, into shorter, more useful hydrocarbons that are in higher demand
Descibe thermal cracking
- Thermal cracking produces one alkane with all other molecules being alkenes
- High pressure: (7000 kPa)
- High temperature: (700-1200 K)
Describe catalytic cracking
- Produces a high percentage of branched alkanes and cycloalkanes
- Temperature: (720 K)
- Slight pressure: (1000 kPa = 1ATM)
- Catalyst: (Zeolite)
What is complete combustion?
Combustion of alkanes in a plentiful supply of oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water
What is incomplete combustion?
Combustion of alkanes in a limited supply of oxygen to produce carbon monoxide or solid carbon
Describe the polluting effects of the following chemicals produced during combustion: CO2, H2O, CO, C
- CO2: Greenhouse gas (prevents heat escaping into space)
- H2O: Greenhouse gas
- CO: Poisonous (prevents haemoglobin from binding to oxygen)
- C: Damages the lungs
Give the formula for the formation of Sulfur Dioxide
S(s) + O2(g) –> SO2(g)
Give the formula for the formation of Sulfuric acid/ acid rain
SO2(g) + 0.5O2(g) + H2O(l) –> H2SO4(l)
Give the formulas of Nitrogen reacting with Oxygen to form Nitric Oxide and Nitrogen Dioxide
N2(g) + O2(g) –> 2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O2 –> 2NO2(g)
Give the formula for the formation of Nitric Acid/ acid rain
4NO2(g) + 2H2O(l) + O2(g) –> 4HNO3(g)
Give the formula for flue gas desulphurisation using Calcium Oxide
CaO(s) + 2H2O(l) + SO2(g) + 0.5O2 –> CaSO4 2H2O(s)
Give the formula for desulphurisation using Calcium Carbonate
CaCO3 + 0.5O2(g) + SO2(g) –> CaSO4(S) + CO2(g)
Describe how a catalytic converter is made to increase the rate of reaction
- The honeycomb structure increases the surface area, increasing the rate of reaction
- Platinum and rhodium metals are used as catalysts
Give the formula for the removal of CO and NO in a catalytic converter
2NO(g) + 2CO(g) –> N2(g) + 2CO2(g)
Give the formula for the removal of unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen monoxide
C8H18 + 25NO –> 8CO2 + 9H2O + 12.5N2
What is a free-radical?
A species with a single unpaired electron
What is the essential condition for free-radical substitution?
UV light
State the equation and description of Initiation of free-radical substitution
- Cl2 –> 2Cl*
- Homolytic fission by UV light forms the radical from the halogen molecule
Give the formula and description for Propogation 1 of free-radical substitution
- CH4 + Cl* –> *CH3 + HCl
- The free-radical produced during initiation takes a H from the alkane
- This turns the alkane into a free-radical and also produces a hydrogen halide byproduct