Checklist Questions

• Crude oil


  Useful fossil fuels but also non-renewable
• Hydrocarbons


  Organic compounds made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms
• Alkanes


  • Saturated = only have single bonds between carbon atoms
  • Part of same homologous series because they have same general formula, similar chemical properties and change in physical properties as chain length increases
• Fractional distillation


  1. Heating

  2. Fractioning columns

  3. Rising

  4. Collection

  5. Removal
• Major fractions obtained from crude oil

  • Refinery gas
  • Gasoline (petrol)
  • Naphtha
  • Kerosene
  • Diesel
  • Fuel oil
  • Lubricating oil
  • Bitumen
• Boiling point and viscosity increase down the chain, flammability decreases down the chain
• Alkenes


  • Group of organic compounds that have double bonds
  • General formula = Cn H2n
  • Functional group is carbon-carbon double bond
  • Unsaturated because they have fewer hydrogen atoms than alkanes with same number of carbon atoms
• Addition reaction with bromine

  • Used to distinguish alkenes from alkanes
  • Alkenes turn bromine water from orange to colourless
  • Alkanes don't react with bromine water
• Polymer


  Large molecules made of small molecules called monomers by covalent bonds
• Natural polymers


  • Cellulose
  • Proteins
  • Starch
• Synthetic polymers


  • Polyethylene (PE)
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
  • Polystyrene (PS)
• Polymer properties


  • Versatile
  • Lightweight
  • Corrosion resistance
  • Good electrical and thermal insulators
  • Low thermal stability
  • Low UV resistance
  • Flammable
  • Bad environment impact
• Vulcanisation of rubber


  • Chemical process that adds sulfure + other curatives to natural rubber to improve properties
  • Forms cross-links between polymer chains
  • Increases elasticity
  • Enhances strength + durability
  • Better heat resistance
  • Better chemical resistance
  • Reduced tackiness
• Ceramic


  • Non-metallic
  • Inorganic solid
  • Hard + resistant to scratching/wear
  • Brittle
  • High melting point
  • Chemical resistance AKA durable (acids, bases,salts)
  • Low thermal conductivity = good insulators
• Examples of ceramic materials

  • Clay
  • Porcelain
  • Glass
• Properties of ceramics


  • Hardness: durability to wear
  • Strength: structural applications + supports heavy loads
  • Chemical resistance: withstand exposure
  • Thermal sability: withstand high temperatures for cooking
  • Non-toxic: safe for food/drink
  • Electrical insulation: prevents electrical conductivity
  • Heat resistant: withstands high temp + thermal protection
  • Low density: lightweight, reduces overall weight in vehicles/aircraft
  • Wear resistance: longevity
• Arrangement of atoms in ceramics

  • Atoms arranges in regular repeating pattern
  • Atoms bonded ionically, electrons transferred between atoms creating positive/negative ions. Some with covalent bonds where atoms share electrons
• Key equipment for evaporation and crystallisation

  • Evaporating basin
  • Bunsen burner
  • Tripod
  • Gauze mat
  • Heatproof mat
  • Beaker
  • Glass rod
  • Watch glass
  • Crystallization dish
• Safely compare different rates of evaporation and crystallisation for copper sulphate solution

  1. Dissolve copper sulphate crystals in distilled water in beaker

  2. Copper sulphate solution into two evaporating basins
• Electrons


  • High melting point: very strong bonds = need lots of energy to break = high melting points
  • Chemical stability
  • Electric insulation: bonds don't allow free movement of electrons
• Key items of equipment needed for evaporation and crystallisation of salt solutions

  • Evaporating basin
  • Bunsen burner
  • Tripod
  • Gauze mat
  • Heatproof mat
  • Beaker
  • Glass rod
  • Watch glass
  • Crystallization dish
• Safely compare different rates of evaporation and crystallisation for copper sulphate solution


  1. Dissolve copper sulphate crystals in distilled water in beaker

  2. Copper sulphate solution into two evaporating basins (A = fast, B = slow)

  3. Evaporating basin A on tripod with gauze mat over bunsen burner

  4. Heat A gently, use thermometer to ensure temp is just below boiling point + stopwatch to measure time

  5. Allow A to evaporate until crystals form, record time taken

  6. Leave B in well ventilated area at room temp

  7. Allow B to evaporate naturally without additional heat + record time taken for crystals to start forming

  8. Once crystals start to form in both basins, transfer them to separate crystallization dishes + allow them to cool + continue to crystallize

  9. Compare size, shape, purity of crystals from A and B
• Slow evaporation


  Larger, well formed
• Fast evaporation


  Smaller, less regular
• Composite material


  • Material made from two or more different substances that have properties from each
  • Matrix: the binding material that surrounds/holds reinforcement
  • Reinforcement: strengthening material embedded in matrix
• Composite material


  • Reinforced concrete
• Pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrogen oxides
  • Carbon monoxide (fossil fuels don't burn completely because not enough oxygen)
• Pollutants associated with making synthetic materials

  • VOCs
  • Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
  • Greenhouse gases from production (e.g methane)
• Recycling


  Process of collecting/sorting/reusing materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste
• How different materials are recycled

  1. Paper/cardboard: Sorted by type + quality, Shredded, pulped, cleaned, Pulp processed into new paper

  2. Plastics: Sorted by type, Cleaned, shredded, melted into pellets, Pellets used to make new plastic products

  3. Glass: Sorted by colour and type, Glass crushed into small pieces (cullet), Cullet melted + molded into new glass

  4. Metals: Sorted by type using magnets, Cleaned, shredded, melted to remove coatings/impurities, Molten metal formed into ingots or sheets, Used to make new metals