Topic 6 Flashcards
What is meant by the term radical
A species with an unpaired electron
How is a radical formed
Formed by homolytic fission of a covalent bond
what is the process of fractional distillation for alkanes
involves converting crude oil into smaller number of fractions
what is cracking
the breakdown of molecules into shorter ones by heating with a catalyst
what is reforming
the conversion of straight chain hydrocarbons into branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons
why is cracking used
demand for shorter chain hydrocarbons as they are better fuels and to make polymers
what is complete combustion
when all the atoms in the fuel are completely oxidised
why can incomplete combustion take place
combustion taking place too fast
when insufficient oxygen takes place
what is incomplete combustion
when some atoms in fuels are not completely oxidised
what are some products of incomplete combustion
carbon particles
unburnt hydrocarbons
oxides of sulfur
oxides of nitrogen
carbon monoxide
what is the observation of carbon particulates
smoke in air- black smokey
why is it honeycomb mesh in catalytic converter
increase surface area
