Alkanes and Their Reactions

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to alkanes, their properties, reactions, and processes in organic chemistry.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons that consist entirely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) with single bonds.

Tetrahedral Shape

The shape around carbon atoms in saturated hydrocarbons, with bond angles of 109.5° due to repulsion between four bond pairs of electrons.

Boiling Point of Alkanes

Increases due to larger induced dipole-dipole interactions among larger alkane molecules.

Sigma Bond (σ bond)

A single bond formed by the overlap of sp3 orbitals from carbon atoms.

Catalytic Cracking

The process of breaking large hydrocarbons into smaller ones to meet demand for shorter-chain hydrocarbons.

Combustion of Alkanes

Highly exothermic reaction of alkanes with oxygen to produce heat; can be complete or incomplete depending on oxygen availability.

Complete Combustion

The reaction of alkanes with excess oxygen producing CO2 and H2O.

Incomplete Combustion

Occurs with limited oxygen, resulting in toxic products like CO and soot.

Free Radical

A reactive species possessing an unpaired electron, formed during the initiation of substitution reactions.

Substitution Reaction

A reaction where a hydrogen atom in an alkane is replaced by a halogen, initiated by UV light.

Propagation Steps

Steps in a free radical substitution process where radicals react to form new products and generate more radicals.

Termination Step

The step in a free radical reaction where two radicals combine to form a stable product, ending the chain reaction.

Initiation Step

The step where the bond in the halogen molecule breaks under UV light, forming free radicals.

Brønsted-Lowry Acid

Any species that can donate a proton in an acid-base reaction.

Chloromethane (CH3Cl)

The product formed from the substitution of hydrogen in methane by chlorine.

Global Dimming

The reflection of sunlight caused by soot produced from incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons.

Zeolite Catalyst

A catalyst used in catalytic cracking that facilitates the conversion of straight-chain alkanes into branched and cyclic alkanes.