Topic 14 - Hydrocarbons Flashcards
What are hydrocarbons made of?
Hydrogen and Carbon only.
What are alkanes?
Saturated hydrocarbons.
What does saturated mean?
No double bonds. Each Carbon atom is bonded 4 times with the max no. of Hydrogens possible.
What is the general formula for alkanes?
C(n) H(2n + 2)
What is the general formula for cycloalkanes?
C(n) H(2n)
What are cycloalkanes?
A functional group isomer of alkanes.
Where are alkanes found?
Crude oil.
What is crude oil?
A mixture of different length hydrocarbons.
How are alkanes in crude oil separated?
Fractional distillation.
Where do alkanes with the highest boiling point condense in fractional distillation?
At the bottom of the column.
Where do the shortest hydrocarbons condense?
At the top. Some may not even condense and be taken off the top as a gas.
Why do alkanes condense at different temperatures?
Different lengths and different boiling points.
How can gas from fractional distillation be used?
LPG and stove gas.
How can petrol from fractional distillation be used?
Petrol cars.
How can diesel from fractional distillation be used?
Diesel cars.
How can fuel oil from fractional distillation be used?
Ships and power stations.
How can kerosine from fractional distillation be used?
Jet fuel and heating.
How can bitumen from fractional distillation be used?
Roofing and tarmac.
Which fractions are more valuable and useful?
Lighter fractions.
How can more lighter fractions be made?
Cracking.
Heavier fractions can be cracked to higher demand lighter fractions.
What is cracking?
Breaking a longer chain alkane into shorter hydrocarbons.
What are the two types of cracking?
Thermal and catalytic.
What are the conditions for thermal cracking?
1000* C
70 atm
What are the products of thermal cracking?
Mainly alkenes.
What are alkenes used for?
To make polymers such as plastics.
What are the conditions for catalytic cracking?
450* C
Slight pressure
Zeolite catalyst
What are the products of catalytic cracking?
Mainly aromatic hydrocarbons used for fuel in vehicles.
What does the Zeolite catalyst do in catalytic cracking?
Lowers temp. and pressure needed for cracking to occur. Lowers costs and speeds up process.
What are the products of alkanes burning in plentiful supply of oxygen?
Carbon dioxide and water.
What are alkanes used for?
Fuels. Power and electricity.
Why are alkanes good fuels?
Most burn readily to produce large amounts of energy.
What are the products of alkanes burning in a limited supply of oxygen?
Carbon monoxide and Carbon (soot).
What happens when alkanes burn in a limited supply of oxygen?
Incomplete combustion.
Why is Carbon Monoxide poisonous?
Bonds to hemoglobin in blood and prevents oxygen bonding.
How can carbon monoxide be removed?
Catalytic converter.
What are the issues with soot?
Can cause breathing problems, make buildings dirty, and clog up engines.
How are nitrates formed?
Reacting Nitrogen and Oxygen together using an electrical spark.
How is nitrogen monoxide removed?
Catalytic converter.
What are catalytic converters made from?
A rhodium, platinum, and palladium alloy.
What can unburnt hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogens lead to?
Photochemical smog.
Where does Ozone occur?
Troposphere.
Where do most hydrocarbons and nitrogen dioxide come from?
Cars and factories.
What is acid rain caused by?
Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.