hydrocarbons

• What area of chemistry focuses on compounds that contain carbon?


  Organic chemistry
• Why is carbon considered a useful element for making large compounds?


  Because each carbon atom can form four strong bonds
• What are hydrocarbons defined as?


  Compounds formed from carbon and hydrogen only
• What is the name of the hydrocarbon with the formula C4H10?


  Butane
• Why is butanol not classified as a hydrocarbon?


  Because it contains an oxygen atom
• What are the first four alkanes in the series?


  Methane, ethane, propane, butane
• How do the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms change in alkanes?


  They grow by one carbon and two hydrogens each time
• What is the general formula for alkanes?


  CnH2n+2
• What does the general formula CnH2n+2 indicate about the number of hydrogen atoms?


  It indicates that if there are n carbon atoms, there will be 2n + 2 hydrogen atoms
• If propane has three carbon atoms, what is its molecular formula?


  C3H8
• What is the molecular formula of octane, which has eight carbon atoms?


  C8H18
• What does it mean for alkanes to be saturated compounds?


  It means every carbon atom has four single covalent bonds
• What happens to the structure of propane if one of its single bonds is changed to a double bond?


  It would no longer be classified as an alkane but as an alkene
• What are the key features of alkanes?


  • They are saturated compounds
  • They contain only carbon and hydrogen
  • They follow the general formula CnH2n+2
  • They have similar properties and reactivity
• What are the next topics to be covered after alkanes?


  • Properties of alkanes
  • Writing equations for their combustion
  • Cracking hydrocarbons