Organic Chemistry

Question 1

What are alkanes?

Answer 1

Alkanes are the simplest group of hydrocarbons consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.

Question 2

What does it mean for a compound to be saturated?

Answer 2

A saturated compound has every carbon atom bonded by four single covalent bonds with no double bonds.

Question 3

What is organic chemistry?

Answer 3

Organic chemistry is the study of compounds containing carbon.

Question 4

Define hydrocarbons.

Answer 4

Hydrocarbons are compounds formed solely from carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Question 4

What is the general formula for alkanes?

Answer 4

The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2.

Question 5

What is a homologous series?

Answer 5

A homologous series is a group of organic compounds with similar properties and reactivity.

Question 5

Why is carbon a versatile element in organic chemistry?

Answer 5

Carbon is versatile because it can form four strong bonds with other atoms.

Question 6

What is the significance of the number of hydrogen atoms in alkanes?

Answer 6

The number of hydrogen atoms in alkanes is determined by the number of carbon atoms and follows the formula 2n + 2.

Question 7

List the first four alkanes and their formulas.

Answer 7

Methane (CH4), Ethane (C2H6), Propane (C3H8), Butane (C4H10).

Question 8

What happens to a hydrocarbon when a single bond is changed to a double bond?

Answer 8

Changing a single bond to a double bond in a hydrocarbon converts it from an alkane to an alkene

Question 9

What distinguishes alkanes from alkenes?

Answer 9

Alkanes have only single bonds, while alkenes contain at least one double bond.

Question 10

What trend is observed in the boiling points of alkanes as chain length increases?

Answer 10

The boiling point of alkanes increases with chain length.

Question 11

How do the boiling points of the first four alkanes affect their state at room temperature?

Answer 11

The first four alkanes have low boiling points and exist as gases at room temperature.

Question 12

What is the relationship between alkane chain length and volatility?

Answer 12

Shorter alkanes are more volatile, meaning they evaporate more easily due to lower boiling points.

Question 13

How does alkane chain length affect viscosity?

Answer 13

Longer alkanes are more viscous, exhibiting a thicker and stickier consistency.

Question 14

What is the flammability trend in alkanes related to chain length?

Answer 14

Shorter alkanes are more flammable, making them easier to ignite.

Question 15

What is complete combustion in relation to hydrocarbons?

Answer 15

Complete combustion occurs when a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy.

Question 16

What type of reaction is combustion classified as?

Answer 16

Combustion is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases heat.

Question 16

What happens to carbon and hydrogen in hydrocarbons during combustion?

Answer 16

Carbon is oxidized to form carbon dioxide, and hydrogen is oxidized to form water.

Question 17

What is required for complete combustion to occur?

Answer 17

Sufficient oxygen is required for complete combustion.

Question 18

What are the products of complete combustion of alkanes?

Answer 18

The products are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

Question 19

What is the significance of the energy released during the combustion of alkanes?

Answer 19

The large amounts of energy released make alkanes effective fuels. large amounts of energy released make alkanes effective fuels.

Question 20

What happens to the physical state of alkanes as their carbon chain becomes very long?

Answer 20

Very long alkanes can become solid at room temperature.

Question 21

What is the definition of volatility in the context of alkanes?

Answer 21

Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance to evaporate; shorter alkanes have higher volatility.

Question 22

What is the main application of hydrocarbons like alkanes?

Answer 22

Hydrocarbons like alkanes are primarily used as fuels.

Question 22

How does viscosity affect the flow of longer alkanes?

Answer 22

Higher viscosity means longer alkanes resist flow, making them thick and sticky.

Question 23

How does the combustion reaction of alkanes relate to energy production?

Answer 23

The combustion reaction releases energy, which is harnessed for fuel purposes.

Question 24

What is the role of oxygen in the combustion of alkanes?

Answer 24

Oxygen is necessary for the complete combustion of alkanes to occur.

Question 25

What is the impact of using shorter alkanes as fuels?

Answer 25

Shorter alkanes are preferred as fuels due to their lower boiling points, higher volatility, and flammability.

Question 26

What are some common uses for bitumen?

Answer 26

Bitumen is commonly used to surface roads.

Question 26

How is crude oil formed?

Answer 26

Crude oil is formed from the remains of dead plants and animals, especially plankton, over millions of years under high pressure and temperature.

Question 27

What is LPG and what does it mainly contain?

Answer 27

LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, mainly contains propane and butane, which are short-chain alkanes.

Question 28

Why are fossil fuels considered non-renewable?

Answer 28

Fossil fuels are considered non-renewable because they take millions of years to form and are consumed faster than they can be replenished.

Question 29

What products are derived from the heavier fractions of crude oil?

Answer 29

Heavier fractions like heavy fuel oil can be separated for use in heating, fuel, or lubricating oil.

Question 29

Why do longer chain hydrocarbons condense earlier in the fractional distillation process?

Answer 29

Longer chain hydrocarbons have higher boiling points, allowing them to condense into liquids at lower positions in the fractionating column.

Question 30

Why is crude oil considered a finite resource

Answer 30

Crude oil is considered a finite resource because it takes millions of years to form and cannot be replenished at the rate it is consumed.

Question 31

What happens to gases in a fractionating column during fractional distillation?

Answer 31

As gases rise in the fractionating column, they cool and condense into liquids when they reach a temperature lower than their boiling point.

Question 32

What role do petrochemicals play in industry?

Answer 32

Petrochemicals serve as feedstock for the petrochemical industry, used to produce solvents, lubricants, polymers, and detergents.

Question 33

What is fractional distillation?

Answer 33

Fractional distillation is a process used to separate different hydrocarbons in crude oil based on their boiling points.

Question 34

How does flammability vary among hydrocarbon fractions?

Answer 34

Shorter chain hydrocarbons are more flammable and are better fuels compared to longer chain hydrocarbons.

Question 34

What fuels are derived from the lighter fractions of crude oil?

Answer 34

Lighter fractions produce fuels such as diesel, petrol, and kerosene.

Question 35

What is crude oil primarily composed of?

Answer 35

Crude oil is primarily composed of hydrocarbons, which are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon.

Question 36

Describe the heating process in fractional distillation.

Answer 36

In fractional distillation, crude oil is heated in a chamber until most of it turns into a gas.