Organic Chemistry

• What is meant by a hydrocarbon?

  A hydrocarbon is a molecule made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
• What are some products derived from crude oil?

  Plastics, petrol, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
• How is crude oil formed?

  Crude oil is formed over millions of years from the remains of tiny sea creatures called plankton that were buried in mud.
• What is the nature of crude oil as a resource?

  Crude oil is a finite resource.
• What is the chemical formula for methane?

  The chemical formula for methane is $CH_4$.
• What does the structural formula of methane show?

  The structural formula of methane shows one carbon atom covalently bonded to four hydrogen atoms.
• What is the definition of a hydrocarbon?

  Hydrocarbons are molecules made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
• What are alkanes?


  Alkanes are hydrocarbons like methane and ethane.
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  The general formula for alkanes is $C_nH_{2n+2}$.
• If an alkane has one carbon atom, how many hydrogen atoms does it have?

  It has four hydrogen atoms.
• How many hydrogen atoms are in ethane, which has two carbon atoms?

  Ethane has six hydrogen atoms.
• How many hydrogen atoms does propane have if it has three carbon atoms?

  Propane has eight hydrogen atoms.
• How many hydrogen atoms does butane have if it has four carbon atoms?

  Butane has ten hydrogen atoms.
• Why are alkanes described as saturated molecules?


  Alkanes are saturated because the carbon atoms are fully bonded to hydrogen atoms.
• What are the structures of the first four alkanes that you need to memorize?

  • Methane: $CH_4$
  • Ethane: $C_2H_6$
  • Propane: $C_3H_8$
  • Butane: $C_4H_{10}$