c7 - organic chemistry

• crude oil


  finite resource found in rocks

  mixture of large number of compounds - mainly hydrocarbons
• hydrocarbons


  molecules consisting of only hydrogen and carbon
• general formula for alkanes

  CnH2n+2
• first four alkanes


  methane - CH4

  ethane - C2H6

  propane - C3H8

  butane - C4H10
• homologous series


  group of organic compounds that have a similar chemical properties due to them having the same functional group
• alkane


  saturated hydrocarbon - has no double bonds
• main use of shorter chain alkanes

  used as fuels
• why are hydrocarbons used as fuels?

  releases a large amount of energy when combusted
• general equation for complete combustion of a hydrocarbon

  hydrogen + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water
• volatility of alkanes as their chain length increases

  become less volatile as chain length increases
• viscosity of alkanes as their chain length increases

  become more viscous as chain length increases
• flammability of alkanes as their chain length increases

  become less flammable as chain length increases