P2 - Organic Chemistry Flashcards
Define alkane
The simplest type of hydrocarbon you can get. They are saturated compounds so each carbon is attached to four hydrogen’s by single covalent bonds.
Formula: C n H 2n+2
Methane, Ethane, Propane, Butane, Hexane, etc.
What are the properties of short hydrocarbon chains?
- Less viscous (more runny)
- More volatile (e.g. lower boiling points)
- More flammable
- Stored under pressure as liquids in bottles
What are the properties of long hydrocarbon chains?
- More Viscous (less runny)
- Less volatile
- Less flammable
- High boiling points
What happens in complete combustion?
This is when a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water vapour. Both the carbon and hydrogen are oxidised during the reaction.
What is the equation for complete combustion?
Alkane + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water
Define crude oil?
It is a fossil fuel made of the remains of plants and animals, mainly plankton, that died millions of years ago and were buried in mud. With high temperature and pressure this turned into crude oil which can be drilled up from rocks where it’s found. It is a non-renewable fuel and a finite resource, meaning it will run out one day.
How does fractional distillation of hydrocarbons work?
You heat crude oil and and the gas given off enters a fractionating column. At the bottom of the column it is very hot, and at the top it is cooler. The longer hydrocarbons with high boiling points condensed into liquids at the bottom of the column. Whereas the shorter ones with lower boiling points condense at the top.
The 6 main fractions:
- Refinery gas (3 carbons)
- Petrol (8 carbons)
- Kérosène - plane fuel (15 carbons)
- Diesel oil (20 carbons)
- Heavy fuel oil (40 carbons)
- Bitumen
How do you crack long chains of hydrocarbons?
Catalytic Cracking - vaporise, pass over hot powdered aluminium oxide catalyst.
Steam Cracking - vaporise, mix with steam, heat at high temperature.
How do you create a chemical equation for cracking?
Long-chain hydrocarbon —> shorter alkane + alkene
Define alkene
These are unsaturated hydrocarbons that have. Double bond between two of their carbon atoms meaning it has fewer hydrogen’s than an alkane. They are much more reactive than alkanes.
Formula: CnH2n
Ethene, Propene, Butene, Pentene, Hexene, etc.
Define incomplete combustion
When there isn’t enough oxygen in the air, alkenes produce not only carbon dioxide and water, but also carbon molecules and carbon monoxide. You can see the reaction by a smoky yellow flame, and less energy is released.
What is the equation for incomplete combustion?
Alkene + oxygen —> carbon + carbon monoxide + carbon dioxide + water
Functional group of an alkene?
C=C
Define hydrogenation
When hydrogen reacts with an alkene to open up the double bond and form an alkane:
R H H H
\ / | |
C=C + H2 —> R - C - C - H
/ \ catalyst | |
H H H H
How do you form an alcohol?
React an alkene with steam to open up the double bond and form an alcohol:
H H H H
\ / | |
C=C + H2O —> H - C - C - O - H
/ \ catalyst | |
H H H H