Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What is a homologous series?
group of organic compounds with the same functional group and similar properties
What is a functional group?
atom/group of atoms that gives an organic compound its particular chemical properties (e.g. -OH, -COOH)
What are structural isomers?
compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formula that can be straight-chained or branched
What are hydrocarbons?
compound containing carbon and hydrogen only
What is a saturated hydrocarbon?
hydrocarbon contain only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms
Prefixes of 1-4 carbon atoms
meth, eth, prop, but
Name the three fuels
coal, natural gas, petroleum
What is the main constituent of natural gas?
methane
What is petroleum?
A mixture of hydrocarbons
How is petroleum separated?
Fractional distillation
Name the eight fractions of petroleum
refinery gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, lubricating fraction, bitumen
What is the use of refinery gas?
Bottled gas for heating and cooking
What is the use of gasoline?
Petrol in cars
What is the use of naphtha?
Making chemicals
What is the use of kerosene/paraffin?
Jet fuel
What is the use of diesel oil?
Fuel in diesel engines
What is the use of fuel oil?
Fuel for ships and home heating systems
What is the use of lubricating fraction?
Lubricants, waxes and polishes
What is the use of bitumen?
Making roads
What is the general formula for alkanes?
CnH2n+2
Describe the bonding in alkanes
Molecules contain only single bonds between carbon atoms in the chain
Describe the trend in boiling points for alkanes
Carbon chain gets longer, boiling points increase
What are the conditions for alkanes to react with chlorine?
Sunlight/light
What happens during a chlorine/alkane reaction?
A chlorine atom replaces a hydrogen atom
What is the general formula for alkenes?
CnH2n
What is the functional group of alkenes?
C=C bond
What is cracking?
Thermal decomposition reaction, in which an alkene is produced from an alkane
What are the conditions of cracking?
Catalyst (aluminium oxide + silicon (IV) oxide), high temperature
What happens to the molecules during cracking?
Large hydrocarbon molecules are broken down to smaller ones and alkenes
What are two differences between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons?
Double bond difference, reaction in bromine water (red/orange vs colourless)
What is a polymer
large molecules built up from monomers
How is polythene produced?
Addition polymerization
What happens during the addition polymerization of polythene?
Double bond splits and polymer is formed
What do alkenes form when they react with steam under heat, pressure and a catalyst?
Alcohol
What is the general formula for alcohols?
CnH2n+1 OH
What is the functional group of alcohols?
OH
What are the two ways alcohol is manufactured?
Fermentation & Catalytic addition of steam to ethene
Describe the process of fermentation (3)
- Enzymes in yeast break down glucose to ethanol and carbon dioxide, giving out heat
a) Can be done with substances that contain cellulose, starch or glucose
b) Done by grinding source (e.g. grapes) and adding enzymes to break down cellulose and starch into glucose. - Leave it to ferment.
- Fractional distillation is used to get ethanol from the mixture