alkanes

• name one hazard when solid carbon is produced during incomplete combustion?

  breathing problems
• why are alkanes unreactive?

  there are no polar bonds in the chain
• why is it beneficial for some polymers to be biodegradable?

  to prevent build up of waste
• why does nonane have a higher boiling point than 2,4-dimethylpentane?

  Nonane is a larger molecule so has more van der Waal’s forces between molecules. Nonane molecules also pack more closely together.
• why is the combustion of fuel oil likely to be incomplete?

  difficult to supply sufficient oxygen
• why are thin layers of metals used on a honeycomb ceramic support in catalytic converters?

  to provide a larger surface area for the reaction to happen and to reduce the amount of the metals needed