Chemistry

• What is an organic compound containing a functional group with the structure 'R-CH=O' called?

  Aldehyde
• What characterizes an alcohol in organic chemistry?

  It has a -OH (hydroxyl group) bonded to a saturated carbon atom.
• What type of hydrocarbon contains only chains of carbon atoms without benzene rings?

  Aliphatic Hydrocarbon
• What are hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms called?

  Alkanes
• What type of hydrocarbons contain at least one double bond between two carbon atoms?

  Alkenes
• What are hydrocarbons that contain at least one triple bond between two carbon atoms called?

  Alkynes
• What does it mean for a substance to be amphoteric?

  It shows both acidic and basic properties.
• What defines an aromatic compound in organic chemistry?

  It contains a benzene ring structure.
• What is auto-ignition in the context of an engine?

  It is the explosion of the petrol-air mixture in an engine before the spark is produced.
• What is the function of a catalytic converter?

  It changes poisonous molecules like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide into less harmful molecules, such as CO₂ and nitrogen.
• Which metals are commonly used as catalysts in catalytic converters?

  Pt, Pd, and Rh.
• What is catalytic cracking?

  It is the breaking down of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules into short-chain molecules, for which there is a greater demand.
• What does dehydrocyclisation achieve in organic chemistry?

  It converts straight-chained alkanes into cyclic and aromatic compounds, which have a higher octane number.
• What is fractional distillation used for?

  It is used to separate crude oil into fractions according to different boiling point ranges.
• What is a functional group in organic chemistry?

  It is a group of atoms on which the characteristic properties of a particular compound depend.
• What is a homologous series?

  It is a series of compounds that contain the same functional group, have similar properties, and successive members differ by CH₂.
• What is a hydrocarbon?

  An organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon only.
• What is isomerisation in organic chemistry?

  It is the conversion of long chain and unbranched hydrocarbons into their shorter, more branched (and more useful) isomers.
• What does the octane number measure?

  It measures a fuel's efficiency or its tendency to resist knocking.
• What is an oxygenate in the context of fuels?

  It is a substance added to fuels to increase their octane number and decrease the amount of pollution they produce, e.g., alcohol and MTBE.
• What defines a saturated compound?

  It contains only single bonds between atoms, e.g., alkanes.
• What is steam reforming used for?

  It is a reaction used for the manufacture of hydrogen by reacting steam with natural gas at high temperature.
• What does a structural formula represent?

  It shows the way in which the atoms are arranged in the molecule.
• What are structural isomers?

  They are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas.
• What is reflux in a chemical process?

  It is the process of boiling a liquid so that any vapor produced is liquefied by condensation and returned to the reaction mixture.
• What defines an unsaturated compound?

  It contains one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.
• What is a volatile liquid?

  A liquid with a low boiling point.