Topic 5: Organic Chemistry Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is organic chemistry primarily concerned with?
The study of organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen.
What is the main source of organic compounds?
Crude oil.
What is crude oil described as?
A mixture containing many alkane and alkene hydrocarbons.
What is the process used to separate crude oil into useful compounds?
Fractional distillation.
What do we call the separated parts of crude oil?
Fractions.
What is the heat gradient in a fractionating column?
It’s hot at the bottom and cold at the top.
What is one use of refinery gases?
Used for bottle gas, e.g., barbecues.
What is petrol primarily used for?
As a car fuel.
What is the use of naphtha?
To make chemicals and plastics.
What is kerosene used for?
As aircraft fuel.
What is diesel commonly used for?
As a fuel for cars.
What is bitumen used for?
For road construction.
What is the process of cracking?
The breakdown of larger unsaturated hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful ones.
What is a hydrocarbon?
A molecule consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms only.
What are the characteristics of homologous series?
- Same general formula
- Similar chemical properties
- Gradation in physical properties
- Differ by a CH2 unit
What is the general formula for alkanes?
C_nH_{2n+2}
What are the first four members of the alkane family?
- Methane (1 Carbon)
- Ethane (2 Carbons)
- Propane (3 Carbons)
- Butane (4 Carbons)
What is the formula for calculating the number of hydrogens in a carbon molecule?
Each two carbons add two hydrogens. The first carbon has four hydrogens.
What is the functional group in alcohols?
OH group
What are the first four alcohols?
- Methanol (1 carbon)
- Ethanol (2 carbons)
- Propan-1-ol (3 carbons, OH on end)
- Propan-2-ol (3 carbons, OH in middle)
What is the general formula for alcohols?
C_nH_{2n+1}OH
How is ethanol produced from ethene?
C2H4 (ethene) + H2O (steam) → C2H5OH (ethanol)
What is fermentation?
Breakdown of sugars to produce ethanol.
