Topic 7-Organic Chemistry Flashcards
What two types of atoms are hydrocarbons made out of?
Hydrogen and carbon
What is crude oil?
Crude oil is a mixture of compounds
It is a finite resource found in rocks and is the remains of ancient biomass consisting mainly of plankton that was buried in mud
What is a hydrocarbon?
A compound made up exclusively of hydrogen and carbon atoms
What are alkanes?
They are saturated hydrocarbons meaning there are only single bonds present in the molecule
What is the general formula for alkanes?
CnH2n+2
What is a homologous series?
A ‘family’ of organic compounds that have the same functional group and similar chemical properties
What are the first 4 alkanes?
Methane, ethane, propane and butane
Describe the combustion of hydrocarbons
Exothermic reaction occurring when hydrocarbons are reacted with oxygen
Complete combustion produces carbon dioxide and water (carbon and hydrogen atoms are completely oxidised)
Incomplete combustion produces carbon or carbon monoxide and water
Define the combustion of hydrocarbons
Exothermic reaction occurring when hydrocarbons are reacted with oxygen
Complete combustion produces carbon dioxide and water (carbon and hydrogen atoms are completely oxidised)
Incomplete combustion produces carbon or carbon monoxide and water
Describe the physical properties of alkanes
First few in series are gases, then change to liquids, then to solids
In general, boiling points and viscosity increase as molecules get bigger
Volatility and flammability decrease as molecules get bigger
Poor reactivity
Explain how fractional distillation of crude oil takes place
Crude oil is heated up and vaporised. The hot crude oil is pumped into the column.
The column has a temperature gradient and is hot at the bottom and cooler at the top
The long chain molecules have higher boiling points because there are stronger intermolecular forces between their longer chains.
Shorter hydrocarbons have low boiling points because there are fewer intermolecular forces between their chains
The smaller molecules condense at the top of the column at the top of the column where the temperature is cooler.
Hydrocarbons of similar length will be collected in the same tray and are known as fractions
What is cracking?
When large hydrocarbons are thermally broken down into smaller and useful molecules
What type of reaction is cracking?
Thermal decomposition
What are the conditions needed for catalytic cracking and what is it useful for?
Low pressure
500 degrees Celsius
Useful for producing petrol
You need to have a catalyst
Makes branched alkanes
What are the conditions needed for thermal cracking and what is it useful for?
High pressure
High temps (450-750)
Makes lots of alkenes
How are the products used?
The products are alkanes and alkenes-used as polymers and starting materials for synthesis
What is an alkene?
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
Contains a C=C bond
What is the general formula for alkenes?
CnH2n
What is the test for alkenes?
Add bromine water.
Colour change occurs from orange to colourless
Describe the combustion of alkenes
They burn with smoky flames due to incomplete combustion