Organic Chemistry

• What type of resource is crude oil?

  Non-renewable resource
• What is crude oil primarily composed of?

  A mixture of hydrocarbons
• Where is crude oil typically found?

  In rocks
• What are fossil fuels derived from?

  Fossilised plankton
• What are two common uses of crude oil?

  • Tarmac
  • Fuels
• How does the length of hydrocarbon chains affect their properties?

  Different lengths result in different properties
• What happens to viscosity as hydrocarbon chain length increases?

  Viscosity increases with longer chains
• How does flammability change with hydrocarbon chain length?

  Longer chains have less flammability
• What is the relationship between boiling points and hydrocarbon chain length?

  Longer chains have higher boiling points
• What are most hydrocarbons classified as?

  Alkanes
• What type of bonds do alkanes have?

  Only single bonds
• Why are alkanes considered saturated hydrocarbons?

  They bond to four other carbon atoms
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  CnH2n+2
• What are the smallest alkanes in order?

  1. Methane (CH4
  2. Ethane (C2H6)
  3. Propane (C3H8)
  4. Butane (C4H10)
• What is fractional distillation used for?

  • Separating crude oil into hydrocarbon groups
  • Groups have similar carbon atom numbers
• What happens to crude oil before fractional distillation?

  It is vaporised by heating
• Describe the process of fractional distillation.

  1. Crude oil is heated and vaporised.
  2. Vapour enters a fractionating column.
  3. Long-chain hydrocarbons condense at the bottom.
  4. Short-chain hydrocarbons rise and condense at lower temperatures.
  5. Each fraction is collected for processing.
• What are some common end products of fractional distillation?

  Fuels
• What can some fractions from crude oil be used as in the petrochemical industry?

  Feedstock for industrial processes
• List three examples of products made from petrochemical feedstock.

  • Solvents
  • Detergents
  • Lubricants
• How are different fractions of crude oil ordered?

  • Refinery gases (lowest boiling points)
  • Petrol
  • Kerosene
  • Diesel
  • Heavy Fuel oil
  • Bitumen (highest boiling point)
• Why do heavy fractions of crude oil not make good fuels?

  They have high boiling points and low flammability
• What is a homologous series?

  • A family of similar compounds
  • Organic compounds contain carbon
• What is the process of combustion in hydrocarbons?

  • Complete combustion: Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water
  • Incomplete combustion: Produces carbon monoxide or soot
• What is carbon monoxide and why is it dangerous?

  It is toxic and prevents oxygen absorption
• What is the equation for incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?

  2C + O2 → 2CO
• What is cracking in hydrocarbons?

  • Breaking down longer chain hydrocarbons
  • Produces smaller, more useful hydrocarbons
• What are the two types of cracking?

  1. Steam cracking
  2. Catalytic cracking
• What is steam cracking?

  Combining heavy hydrocarbons with steam at high temperatures
• What is catalytic cracking?

  Passing heavy hydrocarbons over a heated catalyst
• What is the functional group of alkenes?

  C=C
• What are the uses of alkenes?

  • Combined to make polymers
  • Starting chemicals for ethanol production
• Why are alkenes considered unsaturated?

  They have a double carbon bond
• How does the number of hydrogen atoms in alkenes compare to alkanes?

  Alkenes have two fewer hydrogen atoms
• Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?

  Due to the C=C functional group
• What does bromine water test for?

  • Presence of C=C double bonds
  • Turns colourless if alkene is present
• What are the steps to test for alkenes using bromine water?

  1. Add bromine water to the substance.
  2. Shake the test tube gently.
  3. Observe the colour change.
• What are feedstock?

  a raw material used for manufacturing another one