properties of hydrocarbons

• What are hydrocarbons primarily composed of?

  Hydrogen and carbon atoms
• How are carbon and hydrogen atoms represented in ball and stick models of hydrocarbons?

  Carbon atoms are black, hydrogen atoms are white
• What are the characteristics of short chain and long chain hydrocarbons?

  • Short chain hydrocarbons: few carbon atoms
  • Long chain hydrocarbons: many carbon atoms, may have side chains or rings
• What type of bonds join carbon atoms in hydrocarbons?

  Strong covalent bonds
• How do the properties of hydrocarbons depend on their molecular structure?

  They depend on the number of carbon atoms
• How does the boiling point of hydrocarbons change with chain length?

  Boiling point increases with more carbon atoms
• What is the boiling point of methane?

  -162 degrees Celsius
• What is the boiling point of nonane?

  151 degrees Celsius
• How does volatility change with chain length in hydrocarbons?

  Volatility decreases as chain length increases
• How does flammability change with the number of carbon atoms in hydrocarbons?

  Flammability decreases as carbon atoms increase
• How does viscosity change with the number of carbon atoms in hydrocarbons?

  Viscosity increases as carbon atoms increase
• What does flammability measure?

  How easily a substance burns
• What are intermolecular forces?

  Forces present between molecules