P2.Organic Chemistry

• What is crude oil primarily composed of?

  Ancient biomass, mainly plankton
• What are hydrocarbons made of?

  Hydrogen and carbon atoms only
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  CnH2n+2

  
• Name the first four alkanes.

  Methane, ethane, propane, butane
• How can alkane molecules be represented?

  As C2H6 or similar formulas

  
• What is the process used to separate hydrocarbons in crude oil?

  Fractional distillation
• What do the fractions from fractional distillation contain?

  Molecules with a similar number of carbon atoms
• What fuels are produced from crude oil?

  Petrol, diesel, kerosene, heavy fuel oil
• What materials does the petrochemical industry produce?

  Solvents, lubricants, polymers, detergents
• How do properties of hydrocarbons change with molecular size?

  Boiling point, viscosity, and flammability vary
• What is produced during the complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

  Carbon dioxide and water
• Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of methane.

  CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
• What is cracking in hydrocarbons?

  Breaking down hydrocarbons into smaller molecules
• What are the methods of cracking?

  Catalytic cracking and steam cracking
• What type of hydrocarbons are produced from cracking?

  Alkanes and alkenes
• How do alkenes react with bromine water?

  They cause a color change
• What is the general formula for alkenes?

  CnH2n

  
• Name the first four alkenes.

  Ethene, propene, butene, pentene
• What functional group do alcohols contain?

  -OH
• Name the first four carboxylic acids.

  Methanoic acid, ethanoic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid
• What happens when carboxylic acids react with carbonates?

  They produce carbon dioxide
• Why are carboxylic acids considered weak acids?

  Due to partial ionisation in water
• What is addition polymerisation?

  Joining monomers to form polymers
• What is produced during addition polymerisation?

  Very large molecules called polymers
• What is condensation polymerisation?

  Joining monomers with two functional groups
• What happens during condensation polymerisation?

  Small molecules like water are lost
• What are the key properties of hydrocarbons that depend on molecular size?

  • Boiling point
  • Viscosity
  • Flammability
• What are the uses of alkenes?

  • Fuels
  • Production of polymers
  • Starting materials for chemicals
• What are the main reactions of alkenes?

  • Combustion
  • Addition reactions with hydrogen, water, halogens
• What are the main uses of alcohols?

  • Fuels
  • Solvents
  • Antiseptics
• What are the main reactions of carboxylic acids?

  • React with carbonates
  • Dissolve in water
  • React with alcohols
• What are the differences between addition and condensation polymerisation?

  Addition:

  • Monomers with C=C
  • No small molecules lost

  
  

  Condensation:

  • Monomers with two functional groups
  • Small molecules lost