Properties of Hydrocarbons

Question 1

What does viscosity tell us?

Answer 1

Viscosity tells us the thickness of a fluid.

Fluids with a high viscosity flow slowly, like honey.

Question 2

What is the relationship between hydrocarbon chain length and boiling point?

Answer 2

The longer chain hydrocarbons have higher boiling points. As it requires more energy to break the bonds.

Question 3

What happens to viscosity as the hydrocarbons get larger?

Answer 3

The molecules get more viscus (thicker) as the size of the molecules increases.

Question 4

What does a hydrocarbons flammability mean?

Answer 4

A hydrocarbons flammability just tells us how easily is combusts (burns).

Question 5

How flammable are short chain hydrocarbons?

Answer 5

Short chain hydrocarbons are extremely flammable.

Question 6

How flammable are long chain hydrocarbons?

Answer 6

Long chain hydrocarbons are not very flammable.

(Longer chains have stronger intermolecular forces due to their larger surface area. More energy is required to break these forces and vaporize the molecules, which is necessary for combustion.)

Question 7

What happens to the flammability of the hydrocarbon molecules as their size increases?

Answer 7

The flammability of the hydrocarbon molecules decreases as the size increases.