Organic Chemistry

Question 1

What is crude oil?

Answer 1

A finite resource found in rocks, consisting mainly of ancient biomass buried in mud.

Question 2

What are hydrocarbons?

Answer 2

Molecules made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.

Question 3

What are alkanes?

Answer 3

A type of hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH2n+2.

Question 4

Name the first four members of the alkane series.

Answer 4

• Methane
• Ethane
• Propane
• Butane

Question 5

What properties of hydrocarbons depend on molecular size?

Answer 5

• Boiling point
• Viscosity
• Flammability

Question 6

What is produced during the complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

Answer 6

• Carbon dioxide
• Water

Question 7

How are hydrocarbons separated into fractions?

Answer 7

By fractional distillation.

Question 8

What are some fuels produced from crude oil?

Answer 8

• Petrol
• Diesel oil
• Kerosene
• Heavy fuel oil
• Liquefied petroleum gases

Question 9

What is the role of the petrochemical industry?

Answer 9

Produces solvents, lubricants, polymers, and detergents.

Question 10

What gases may have formed the early atmosphere?

Answer 10

• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrogen
• Methane
• Ammonia

Question 11

What caused the increase of oxygen in the atmosphere?

Answer 11

Photosynthesis by algae and plants.

Question 12

What are the current proportions of gases in the atmosphere?

Answer 12

• About 80% nitrogen
• About 20% oxygen
• Small proportions of other gases

Question 13

True or False: Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is colorless and odorless.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

What are greenhouse gases?

Answer 14

Gases that maintain temperatures on Earth high enough to support life, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Question 15

List two human activities that increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Answer 15

• Burning fossil fuels
• Deforestation

Question 16

What is the carbon footprint?

Answer 16

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service, or event.

Question 17

What is cracking in the context of hydrocarbons?

Answer 17

The process of breaking down hydrocarbons to produce smaller, more useful molecules.

Question 18

What are alkenes?

Answer 18

A type of hydrocarbon produced during cracking that is more reactive than alkanes.

Question 19

What distinguishes thermosoftening polymers from thermosetting polymers?

Answer 19

Thermosoftening polymers melt when heated; thermosetting polymers do not.

Question 20

Fill in the blank: Alkenes react with _______ water, which is used as a test for alkenes.

Answer 20

bromine

Question 21

Describe the structure of polymers.

Answer 21

Polymers have very large molecules with atoms linked by strong covalent bonds.

Question 22

What is the general representation of a polymer?

Answer 22

Where n is a large number.

Question 23

What is the effect of increased atmospheric pollutants?

Answer 23

Causes respiratory problems, acid rain, global dimming, and health issues.

Question 24

What is one theory about the formation of the Earth’s early atmosphere?

Answer 24

Intense volcanic activity released gases that formed the early atmosphere and water vapor.

Question 25

What are the products of combustion of fuels?

Answer 25

• Carbon dioxide
• Water vapor
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Oxides of nitrogen

Question 26

What are the potential effects of global climate change?

Answer 26

To be described briefly; includes rising sea levels, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and food security issues.

Question 27

How does photosynthesis decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Answer 27

By converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Question 28

What is fractional distillation used for?

Answer 28

To separate hydrocarbons in crude oil into fractions with similar numbers of carbon atoms.