alkanes

Cards (22)

  • What are alkanes composed of?
    Hydrogen and carbon atoms
  • What does it mean for alkanes to be fully saturated?
    They only contain C-H and C-C bonds
  • What type of bonds are C-H and C-C bonds in alkanes?
    σ bonds
  • How do σ bonds form?
    Electron orbitals overlap between atomic nuclei
  • What is a characteristic of σ bonds regarding atom rotation?
    They allow free rotation of atoms
  • What is the general formula for alkanes?
    CnH2n+2
  • How many hydrogen atoms are there for every n carbon atoms in an alkane?
    2n + 2 hydrogen atoms
  • How many atoms is each carbon atom in an alkane bonded to?
    Four other atoms
  • What does electron pair repulsion theory state?
    Negative charge regions repel to maximize distance
  • What is the arrangement of bonds around each carbon atom in an alkane?
    Tetrahedral arrangement of bonds
  • What is the bond angle between the bonds in an alkane?
    109.5 degrees
  • How do the boiling points of straight-chain alkanes change with chain length?
    Boiling point increases with chain length
  • Why do longer chained alkanes have higher boiling points?
    Greater interactions via induced dipole-dipole
  • How does branching affect the boiling point of alkanes?
    Branching reduces the boiling point
  • Why does branching reduce the boiling point of alkanes?
    It reduces alignment for induced dipole-dipole
  • How reactive are alkanes generally?
    Alkanes are generally unreactive
  • What contributes to the unreactivity of alkanes?
    High bond enthalpy requires large energy
  • What are hydrocarbons?
    Compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon
  • What is the difference between straight-chain and branched alkanes?
    Straight-chain alkanes have continuous carbon chains
  • Why are induced dipole-dipole interactions important for boiling points?
    They affect how molecules align and interact
  • How do variations in molecular formula affect physical properties?
    They can lead to different boiling and melting points
  • How does bond enthalpy influence chemical reactivity?
    Higher bond enthalpy means more energy needed