Unit 4: Lesson 10: Alkanes Flashcards
What are the alkanes?
A homologous series. They’re hydrocarbons (only hydrogen and carbon) joined with single covalent bonds.
What do alkanes share?
A general formula, similar chemical properties (due to their functional group) and a trend in physical properties.
What are alkanes used for?
Alkanes are commonly used as fuel. For example, methane cooks your dinner in a gas oven, propane is in the canister that runs your BBQ and a mixture of alkanes make up LPG which heats your radiators.
What is a saturated hydrocarbon? What’s the difference between saturated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons?
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. Saturated hydrocarbons have no double bonds, whereas unsaturated hydrocarbons have double bonds.
Are alkanes saturated or unsaturated?
Saturated.
How does the number of carbons affect the boiling point of alkanes?
Their boiling point increases with the number of carbons.
If an alkane is larger, the stronger the intermolecular forces are and the more energy is required to break them. True or false?
True.
What is the general formula for alkanes?
CnH2n+2
Alkanes with the following number of carbons are called what?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
e) 5
f) 6
a) Methane
b) Ethane
c) Propane
d) Butane
e) Pentane
f) Hexane
Fill in the general formula for alkanes for these different types of alkanes:
a) Methane
b) Ethane
c) Propane
d) Butane
e) Pentane
f) Hexane
a) C1H2x1+2
b) C2H2x2+2
c) C3H2x3+2
d) C4H2x4+2
e) C5H2x5+2
f) C6H2x6+2
Give the molecular formula for the following types of alkanes:
a) Methane
b) Ethane
c) Propane
d) Butane
e) Pentane
f) Hexane
a) CH4
b) C2H6
c) C3H8
d) C4H10
e) C5H12
f) C6H14
As we move through the alkanes (methane to hexane), what is added to the chain each time?
A -CH2-
What is an alkane isomer?
An isomer has the same molecular formula but a different structural formula. EG, there are isomers of pentane. The compound will have the same number and type of each atom (C5H12 - pentane) but they are arranged differently. Pentane is unbranched, but the isomers can be branched.
Describe the reactiveness of alkanes.
Alkanes lack strong double bonds, meaning that they are fairly unreactive/inert compared to other organic compounds.
What two reactions are alkanes involved in?
Combustion and substitution.
Describe the combustion of alkanes.
Alkanes tend to completely combust, resulting in carbon dioxide, water and energy. It only occurs if there’s plenty of oxygen.
CH4 + 2O2 –> CO2 + 2H2O + energy
2C2H6 + 7O2 –> 4CO2 + 6H2O + energy
C3H8 + 5O2 –> 3CO2 + 4H2O + energy
2C4H10 + 13O2 –> 8CO2 + 10H2O + energy
C5H12 + 8O2 –> 5CO2 + 6H2O + energy
Describe substitution reactions involving alkanes (and halogens).
Halogens and alkanes are quite inert. If UV (ultraviolet) radiation is applied, they react to make a haloalkane and a hydrogen halide. This is called a substitution reaction.
Give an example of a substitution reaction and explain it.
Methane (alkane) reacting with bromine gas (halogen) to make a haloalkane (CH3Br) and a hydrogen halide (HBr).
CH4 + Br2 –> CH3Br + HBr
UV radiation is NEEDED. It gives the energy needed to break the bond between the 2 bromines, leaving 2 very reactive bromines free. One hydrogen on the alkane is substituted (replaced) by one of the bromines. This makes the haloalkane, The remaining hydrogen and bromine bond to make the hydrogen halide. If bromine (orange) and methane are left in sunlight, the gas mixture turns from orange to colourless as bromomethane and hydrogen bromide are made. Ideally, a UV lamp is needed. Sunlight rarely has enough UV for the reaction.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/2d/cf/bc/2dcfbce711e82d473d8fd06d76846cca.jpg
What will the reactants always be in a substitution reaction?
The reactants will be an alkane + a diatomic halogen molecule (two halogen atoms bonded).
How do you write the haloalkane’s chemical formula in a substitution reaction?
The haloalkane will have the same molecular formula as the alkane with one hydrogen removed and one halogen added.
How do you write the hydrogen halide’s chemical formula in a substitution reaction?
The hydrogen halide will be hydrogen atom followed by one halogen atom. When naming a hydrogen halide, don’t forget to replace the n in the name of the halogen with a d. For example, bromine becomes bromide.
When writing a hydrogen halide’s name, what do we always change the ‘n’ in the name of the halogen to? Give examples.
A ‘d’.
Hydrogen chloriDe. (CH4 + Cl2 –> CH3Cl + HCl)
Hydrogen bromiDe. (C2H5 + Br2 –> C2H4Br + HBr)
Hydrogen fluoriDe. (CH4 + F2 –> CH3F + HF)
Hydrogen chloriDe. (C5H12 + Cl2 –> C5H11Cl + HCl)
What does a haloalkane’s name always start with? Give the 4 ways to start the name of a haloalkane and give 4 examples.
The halogens nickname.
Bromine –> Bromo
Chlorine –> Chloro
Fluorine –> Fluoro
Iodine –> Iodo
Chloromethane
Bromoethane
Fluoromethane
1-Iodopentane
What does the haloalkane’s name always end with? Give 4 examples.
The halogen’s name always STARTS with the halogen’s nickname and ENDS with the alkane.
ChloroMETHANE.
BromoETHANE.
FluoroMETHANE.
ChloroPENTANE.