Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What are hydrocarbons?
Compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds.
What is the general formula for alkanes?
C_nH_(2n+2)
Alkanes are a homologous series of hydrocarbons with single C-C bonds.
List the first four alkanes.
- Methane: CH₄
- Ethane: C₂H₆
- Propane: C₃H₈
- Butane: C₄H₁₀
What type of bonds do alkanes have?
All C-C single bonds
What happens to the properties of hydrocarbons as the carbon chain length increases?
- Less runny (more viscous)
- Higher boiling points
- Less flammable
What is complete combustion?
The combustion of a hydrocarbon in plenty of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy.
What are the waste products of complete combustion of hydrocarbons?
- Carbon dioxide
- Water vapour
Fill in the blank: Oxidation can be defined as the _______.
gain of oxygen
What is the balanced equation for the complete combustion of methane (CH₄)?
CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O
What is crude oil?
A fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, mainly plankton.
How is crude oil formed?
Over millions of years under high temperature and pressure.
Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?
They take millions of years to form and are being consumed faster than they are produced.
What is fractional distillation?
A process used to separate different hydrocarbons in crude oil based on their boiling points.
What happens to hydrocarbons in a fractional distillation column?
- Longer hydrocarbons condense and drain out earlier (bottom)
- Shorter hydrocarbons condense and drain out later (top)
What is LPG primarily composed of?
Propane and butane
Fill in the blank: The temperature gradient in fractional distillation is _______.
hot at the bottom and cooler at the top
What is the significance of the boiling points of hydrocarbons in fractional distillation?
They determine where the hydrocarbons condense in the column.
What has fueled modern civilization?
Crude oil
The discovery of oil has significantly impacted global development.
List three fuels derived from crude oil.
- Diesel oil
- Kerosene
- LPG (liquid petroleum gas)
These fuels are essential for various modes of transportation.
What industry uses hydrocarbons from crude oil as feedstock?
The petrochemical industry
This industry produces compounds for polymers, solvents, lubricants, and detergents.
What are organic compounds?
Compounds containing carbon atoms
Crude oil products are examples of organic compounds.
What are homologous series?
Groups of compounds with similar properties
Carbon atoms can bond to form different groups, resulting in various compounds.
Name two examples of homologous series.
- Alkanes
- Alkenes
These series contain compounds with similar structures and properties.
What is cracking in relation to hydrocarbons?
A process to split long-chain hydrocarbons into shorter ones
This process produces more useful fuels.
