Organic Definitions

Question 1

Homologous series

Answer 1

A homologous series is a family of organic compounds where members have:
- the same general formula
- show similar chemical properties
- show a gradation in their physical properties
- successive members differ by a CH2 unit

Question 2

Hydrocarbon

Answer 2

A hydrocarbon is a compound (or molecule) consisting of hydrogen and carbon only

Question 3

Petrochemicals

Answer 3

Chemicals made from petroleum (crude oil) and natural gas

Question 4

Finite resource

Answer 4

A resource that once used, cannot be replaced in a human lifetime

Question 5

Feedstock

Answer 5

Raw materials (eg crude oil is the feedstock for the petrochemical industry)

Question 6

Fractional distillation

Answer 6

Evaporation and condensation where substances are separated due to differences in boiling points

Question 7

Fraction

Answer 7

Mixtures of hydrocarbons with similar boiling points

Question 8

Cracking

Answer 8

Cracking is the breakdown of larger/longer saturated hydrocarbon molecules into smaller/shorter more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated

Question 9

Functional group

Answer 9

A functional group is a reactive group in a molecule

Question 10

Combustion

Answer 10

Combustion is the reaction in which a fuel reacts with oxygen producing oxides and releasing heat

Question 11

Saturated

Answer 11

A saturated compound contains no C=C

Question 12

Unsaturated

Answer 12

An unsaturated compound contains at least one C=C bond

Question 13

Polymerisation

Answer 13

Polymerisation is the process of creating a long chain molecule from small molecules

Question 14

Additional polymerisation

Answer 14

Additional polymerisation occur when small molecules join together to form long chain molecules called polymers

Question 15

Monomers

Answer 15

Are compounds which can join together to form polymers