L3 - Hydrocarbons

Why can carbon form so many different types of bonds?

Because carbon has four valence electrons, allowing it to form single, double, and triple bonds with itself and other atoms.

Give two examples of large carbon networks and small carbon molecules.

Large network – diamond; small molecule – carbon dioxide.

Name three places where carbon naturally occurs.

in the air as carbon dioxide, in living things (proteins, carbohydrates), and in rocks as carbonates.

What are some mixtures of carbon compounds found in nature?

Coal, oil, wood, and natural gas.

What is crude oil made from?

Deposits of liquified dead organic material that has decomposed over time.

What type of molecules make up crude oil?

Hydrocarbons – molecules formed from hydrogen and carbon.

Why do we need to separate crude oil into fractions?

To isolate different hydrocarbons so they can be used for fuels and materials.

What is fractional distillation?

A process that separates crude oil into components based on their different boiling points.

What are hydrocarbons?

Molecules consisting only of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

How do we obtain hydrocarbons for manufacturing?

Extract crude oil from the ground and use fractional distillation to separate it into fractions.