hydrocarbons

• What area of chemistry focuses on compounds containing carbon?

  Organic chemistry
• Why is carbon considered a useful element in chemistry?

  It can form four strong bonds
• What are hydrocarbons defined as?

  Compounds formed from carbon and hydrogen only
• What is the name of the hydrocarbon with the formula C4H10?

  Butane
• Why is butanol not classified as a hydrocarbon?

  It contains an oxygen atom
• What is the simplest type of hydrocarbons?

  Alkanes
• What is the molecular formula for methane?

  C1H4
• How many carbon atoms are in ethane?

  Two
• What is the molecular formula for propane?

  C3H8
• How do the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms change in alkanes?

  They grow by one carbon and two hydrogens
• What is a homologous series in organic chemistry?

  A group of compounds with similar properties
• What is the general formula for alkanes?


  CnH2n+2
• If an alkane has three carbon atoms, how many hydrogen atoms does it have?

  Eight
• What is the molecular formula for octane?

  C8H18
• What does it mean for alkanes to be saturated compounds?

  Every carbon has four single covalent bonds
• What happens if a single bond in propane is changed to a double bond?

  It becomes an alkene
• What are the first four alkanes in the series?

  • Methane (C1H4)
  • Ethane (C2H6)
  • Propane (C3H8)
  • Butane (C4H10)
• What are the key features of alkanes?

  • Saturated compounds
  • No double bonds
  • General formula: CnH2n+2