Organic Chemistry- alkanes, alkenes and alcohols Flashcards
What is cracking?
Long chained alkanes breaking into shorter chained alkenes and alkanes.
use of high temperatures /thermal decomposition
Either
to break large molecules / to form smaller molecules / to break bonds in large molecules / to break carbon-carbon bonds (1)
OR
producing alkenes / producing carbon-carbon double bonds (1)
Define catenate
Reacting with itself.
What is a different name for cracking ?
Pyrolysis.
Why does aluminium oxide help with reacting alkanes?
It reduces the strength of the bonds.
What does half an arrow mean in diagrams?
One electron moving.
What is a free radical ?
An atom or molecule with a single unpaired electron.
What is halogenation?
Substituting a hydrogen with a halogen.
What is the initiation step of halogenation of bromine and methane ?
UV Light causes the Br(2) molecule to split into 2 free radicals.
This is homolytic fission.
What is the propagation step of halogenation of bromine and methane ?
One of the bromine free radicals will react with the bond between a hydrogen and carbon in a methane molecule. The bromine gains an electron and so does the carbon. The result is bromine bonded to hydrogen and a CH(3) free radical.
What is the second propagation step of halogenation of bromine and methane ?
A CH(3) free radical will react with a Br(2) molecule. Electrons will move around resulting in a bromine free radical and a carbon bonded to 3 hydrogens and a bromine.
Explain the structure of a double bond?
It is a sigma (σ) bond in the middle with a pi bonds on the top and bottom. The pi bonds are straight and extend so they are over both carbons.
The σ bond is stronger than a single pi bond but together it is stronger than a single one.
What type of bond is a single bond?
A sigma (σ) bond
Which has the higher boiling point? A cis or trans isomer?
The cis isomer. This is because the shape of the cis isomer means more can fit together in a smaller space. This increases the surface area and so it increases the forces of attraction, thus more energy is needed to break them.
Explain the process of addition with hydrogen bromine and ethene.
The bromine will have a slightly negative charge while the hydrogen has a positive one. The hydrogen gains an electron from the double bond and it gives one to the bromine. The result is a bromine free radical and C(2)H(5) with a open positive bond which the bromine is later attracted to.
What is electro negativity ?
The ability of atoms in a bond to pull electrons of the bond, closer to the atom.
What happens when butene comes into contact with ICl?
The electronegative chlorine will gain an electron from the iodine and the iodine gains an electron from the butenes double bond. This results in the double bond braking open meaning the iodine can join and there is an open positive bond and a chlorine free radical. This latter joins the to butene.
When ICl reacts with butene, which two molecules can form?
CH”3”CH”2”CHICH”2”Cl and CH”3”CH”2”CHClCH”2”I. The latter will form more.
What is a Z isomer?
Same as a cis isomer.
What is the same as an E isomer?
Same as a trans isomer.
What happens if a alkane is burnt incompletely?
There won’t be enough oxygen and carbon monoxide will be produced as well as the other products.
Give the halogenation of methane and Cl”2”
CH”4” + Cl”2” = HCl + CH”3”Cl
After a halogenation you may get CH”3”Br and a Br free radical. What can happen now?
The bromine may continue to react with the hydrogen bonds resulting in a carbon bonded to 4 bromines or less.
What is the termination step of halogenation?
Any two free radicals can meet. E.g. A CH”3” and Br free radical may meet producing CH”3”Br which won’t react with anything else.
What type of reaction are most addition reactions?
Exothermic.
What do larger alkanes have greater boiling points?
There are greater intermolecular forces.
Define empirical formula.
The simplest ratio of the atoms in each element in a compound.
Define skeletal formula
Shows the bonds of the carbon skeleton only.
What is a cycoalkane?
A an alkane that is in a ring. Each carbon atom is bonded to 2 hydrogen atoms.
Why are alkenes more reactive?
The double bond they have has a high electron density. Thus there are more electrons to be reacted with.
Also the pi bond sticks out top and bottom so electrophiles will be attracted.