Organic Chemistry (Part 1) Flashcards
What are fossil fuels?
Made from fossil remains of plants and animals. When we burn them we’re using the sun’s energy that has been stored as chemical energy underground for millions of years. They are non-renewable.
What is crude oil?
A mixture of hydrocarbons, is removed from the earth by drilling.
The hydrocarbons in crude oil have different boiling points and because of this they can be separated into different fractions using fractional distillation.
Definition of a hydrocarbon
A compound or molecule that consists of hydrogen and carbon only
Examples of renewable sources?
Hydroelectric, wind, waves and solar energy
What is fraction distillation?
A continual process of evaporation and condensation. The fractionating column works continuously with heated crude oil piped in at the bottom and various fractions being constantly tapped off at different levels where they condense
What are the environmental concerns with the Petro-chemical industry?
Transport of crude oil can result in spills and leakages.
Drilling for of in the sea bed can also result in leaks.
Air pollution is caused by burning fossil fuels as CO2 is produced.
Definition of cracking
The breakdown of larger/longer (less useful) saturated hydrocarbon molecules (alkanes) into smaller/shorter more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated (alkenes)
What is the homologous series?
A family of organic compounds where members have:
-the same general formula
-show similar chemical properties
-show a graduation in their physical properties
- successive members differ by a CH2 unit
What is included in the Alkanes?
Methane - CH4
Ethane - C2H6
Propane - C3H8
Butane - C4H10
All colourless gases
What are the properties of alkanes?
General formula is CnH2n+2.
They are hydrocarbons and they have single covalent bonds between the atoms.
They are called saturated hydrocarbons.
They don’t have a functional group which makes them less reactive organic molecules.
Used as fuels.
What is a saturated compound and a functional group?
Saturated compound - contains no C=C bonds
Functional group - a reactive group in a molecule
Combustion definition
The reaction in which a fuel reacts with oxygen producing oxides and releasing heat
Properties of compustion
Products are carbon dioxide and water.
It’s an oxidation reaction.
The reaction is exothermic.
The gas burns with a clear blue flame.
Complete combustion
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen - Carbon Dioxide + Water + (energy)
Incomplete Combustion
Hydrocarbon + Oxygen - Carbon Monoxide (toxic) + Water + (energy)
When there is limited oxygen.
