Organic Chemistry

Question 1

What is organic chemistry the study of?

Answer 1

Organic chemistry is the study of the carbon atom

Question 2

What are hydrocarbons and what do they contain?

Answer 2

Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds, they only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. This means that any compound formed that is formed from carbon and hydrogen atoms only.

Question 3

What are alkanes?

Answer 3

Alkanes are the simplest type of hydrocarbon you can get, they have a general formula of CnH2n+2. They are a homologous series - a group of organic compounds that react in a similar way. They are also saturated compounds meaning each carbon atom forms four single covalent bonds
The first 6 are methane, ethane propane, butane, pentane and dodecane

Question 4

What does displayed formula look like?

Answer 4

This is methane’s general formula is C1 H4

Question 5

How do hydrocarbon properties change

Answer 5

As the length of the carbon chain changes, the properties of the hydrocarbon change in several ways

1. The shorter the hydrocarbon, the more runny a hydrocarbon that it is less viscous (gloopy)
2. Hydrocarbons with shorter carbon chains are also more volatile meaning they have lower boiling points
3. The shorter the carbon chain the more flammable (easier to ignite) the hydrocarbon is
4. The properties of hydrocarbons affect how they are used as fuels eg short chain hydrocarbons like propane are used as “bottled gases” - stored under pressure as liquids in bottles.