what is an alkane
a saturated hydrocarbon containing only C-H bonds
what is the general formula of an alkane
CnH2n + 2
are alkane bonds polar and why/why not
nonpolar as the carbon and hydrogens have similar electronegative
which intermolecular forces do they have and why
Van der Waals forces of attraction as the bonds are non polar
are alkanes soluble in water and why
insoluble in water because hydrogen bonds in water are stronger than alkanes van der waals forces of attraction
how reactive are alkanes
very unreactive
which reactions do alkanes undergo
combustion and reaction with halogens
what is crude oil, how is it formed and is it renawable
mixture of fractions with hydrocarbon of similar boiling points and properties
formed at high temperatures and pressures deep below the earths surface adn over millions of years and therefore is non-renewable
name the fraction from high to low boiling point
Gases
Petrol
Naptha
Kerosone
diesel
oil
fuel oil
bitumen
what is fractional distillation and how does it work
crude oil is heated and passed through a fractioning tower that has a heat gradient where it is cold at the top and hot at the bottom
vapours rise up the column and condense when the temperature is smaller than the boiling point
shortest chains condense at the top as they have the lowest boiling points
why are alkanes cracked
turn long chain alkanes which are not economically valuable and turns them into shorter chain alkanes and alkenes
what are the conditions for thermal cracking
high pressure and temperature
what is the intermediate for the reaction
free radicals
what are the main products of thermal cracking
alkenes
what are the conditions for catalytic cracking
high temperature
slight pressure
zeolite catalysts with honeycomb structure to give large SA
what are the main products of catalytic cracking
cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons and branches alkanes
write an equations for the combustion of propane
C3H8 + 5O2 —-> 3CO2 + 4H2O
what is petroleum
a mixture consisting of mainly alkane hydrocarbons that can be separated in fractional distillation
what is incomplete combustion and what products are formed in the case of alkanes
combustion in a limited supply of oxygen
it forms carbon monoxide and soot
which types of hydrocarbons are most likely to undergo incomplete combustion
longer chains
what is the environmental impact of carbon monoxide
toxic and poisonous
what is the environmental impact of nitrogen oxides
forms nitric acid which causes acid rain and smog
what is the environmental impact of sulphur impurities
form sulphuric acid and causes acid rain
what is the environmental impact of soot
asthma, cracking and global dimming