Topic 6 Organic Flashcards
Complete combustion
All of the atoms in the fuel are fully oxidised
Hydrocarbon + oxygen —-> carbon dioxide + water
Incomplete combustion
All of the hydrogen atoms in an alkane molecule are converted into water, but some of the carbon atoms can form gaseous carbon monoxide or solid carbon.
-Not fully oxidised
Partially incomplete: Hydrocarbon + oxygen –> carbon monoxide + water
Fully incomplete: Hydrocarbon + oxygen –> carbon + water
Carbon monoxide
-A toxic gas that causes death
-It acts by preventing the transport of oxygen around the body
-It is colourless and odourless, so people breath it into their lungs without knowing
-It is known as the ‘silent killer’
Catalytic converters
-Metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium are spread thinly over a honeycomb mesh to increase the surface area for reaction
-A common type is known as a three way catalyst because it can remove three different pollutants: carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen
-As the exhaust gases from the engine pass through the catalytic converter several reactions can occur.
Platinum in a catalytic converter
Collects oxygen atoms and lets them bind with carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide.
Rhodium in a catalytic converter
Removes oxygen from nitrogen oxide pollutants and converts it to nitrogen and oxygen.
Palladium in a catalytic converter
Collects oxygen atoms and binds them with carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide, molecules of unburnt fuel residue recombine with the oxygen due to the extreme heat resulting in more carbon dioxide and water.
Renewable
Energy can be remade quicker than it is being used up
Non-renewable
Fuel/energy is being used up faster than it can be made
Carbon neutral
Don’t produce carbon/greenhouse gases
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Chlorofluorocarbons have been responsible for depleting the ozone layer as they attack and destroy ozone molecules
What is homolytic fission?
The process of breaking a covalent within a molecule leading to the formation of radicals. (A type of bond fission that involves the dissociation of a given molecule).
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electrons.
Mechanism, Step 1: initiation
-Formation of radical –> breaking Cl2 into individual atoms (UV is used)
-Involves homolytic fission
Cl2 —> Cl* + Cl*
(*- free radical species)
Mechanism, Step 2: propagation
-Free radical is very reactive and so can remove a H from methane to produce a new radical
Cl* + CH4 –> HCl + CH3* (super reactive which leads to
the start of a new equation)
CH3* + Cl2 –> CH3Cl + Cl*
-Both steps form one radical and one molecule
-Chlorine radicals are very reactive species and when they collide with methane molecules they react by removing a hydrogen atom.
Mechanism, Step 3: termination
-Radicals combine to form molecules
Cl* + Cl* –> Cl2
CH3* + Cl* –> CH3Cl
CH3* + CH3* –> C2H6
Alkene general formula
CnH2n
Overlapping in sigma and pi bonding
-The strength of a bond is dependent on the extent of overlapping.
-In the case of the sigma bond, the overlapping of orbitals takes place to a larger event
-Hence, the sigma bond is stronger in comparison to the pi bond because in the pi bond, the extent of overlapping is smaller.
Alkane general formula
CnH2n+2
Combustion in alkenes
Alkenes are hydrocarbons so like alkanes will burn in air or oxygen. The flame will be smokier than that of an alkane because of the higher percentage of carbon in the molecule.
Alkenes are rarely burned as fuels because they have other more useful reactions.
Mechanism for addition of alkanes
Need pictures
Electrophile
An electron-deficient species that are attracted to an electron-rich center.
(A species that will accept an electron pair).
What do the curly arrows in addition mechanism represent?
Electron density
Unsymmetrical alkanes
An unsymmetrical alkane is one in which the atoms on either side of the carbon carbon double bond are not the same.
An unsymmetrical attacking molecule is one in which the atoms are different.
Major product of mechanism
The product that is produced in the greatest amount in a chemical reaction.
Minor product of mechanism
A reaction product that is not produced in the greatest amount in a chemical reaction.
Addition polymerisation rules
-High temperature and pressure are required
-The alkene molecules are called monomers
-The polymer is named by writing ‘poly’ followed by the name of the monomer brackets
Recycle
Converting into other materials
Incineration
Heat energy to heat homes or factories or to generate electricity
Feedstock
Break down polymer waste into gases (mostly H2 and CO) then use these to male chemicals (often polymers).
Biodegradable
Broken down by microbes in the environment. However, they are often plant based so land is needed to grow the plants.