Hydrocarbons Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental hydrocarbon chemistry including compound types, IUPAC nomenclature for alkanes, fractional distillation, combustion types, and key industrial uses.

Organic Compound

A compound generally based on carbon, often containing C–H bonds.

Hydrocarbon

A compound containing only carbon and hydrogen.

General Formula for Alkanes

$\text{C}_n\text{H}_{2n+2}$, where $n$ represents the number of carbon atoms.

Methane

The IUPAC name for the single-carbon alkane with the chemical formula $\text{CH}_4$.

Ethane

The IUPAC name for the two-carbon alkane with the chemical formula $\text{C}_2\text{H}_6$ and structural formula $\text{CH}_3\text{--}\text{CH}_3$.

Propane

The IUPAC name for the three-carbon alkane with the chemical formula $\text{C}_3\text{H}_8$ and structural formula $\text{CH}_3\text{--}\text{CH}_2\text{--}\text{CH}_3$.

Butane

The IUPAC name for the four-carbon alkane with the chemical formula $\text{C}_4\text{H}_{10}$ and structural formula $\text{CH}_3\text{--}\text{CH}_2\text{--}\text{CH}_2\text{--}\text{CH}_3$.

Pentane

The IUPAC name for the alkane with $5$ carbon atoms and formula $\text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}$.

Hexane

The IUPAC name for the alkane with $6$ carbon atoms and formula $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{14}$.

Heptane

The IUPAC name for the alkane with $7$ carbon atoms and formula $\text{C}_7\text{H}_{16}$.

Octane

The IUPAC name for the alkane with $8$ carbon atoms and formula $\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}$.

Carbon Bonding Capacity

The structural requirement that one carbon atom must form a total of $4$ bonds in standard organic molecules.

Crude Oil

A mixture of many different hydrocarbons that can be separated by fractional distillation.

Fractional Distillation

A separation process that divides crude oil into fractions based on the differing boiling points of its constituent hydrocarbons.

Fractioning Column Gradient

A temperature arrangement in fractional distillation where the column is hottest at the bottom and coolest at the top.

Fraction (Crude Oil)

A group of hydrocarbons separated during crude oil processing that have similar boiling points.

Complete Combustion

Combustion that occurs in plenty of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water while releasing a large amount of energy.

Incomplete Combustion

Combustion caused by limited oxygen, producing poisonous carbon monoxide, soot/carbon, and water while releasing less useful energy.

Carbon Monoxide

A poisonous gas produced during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons.

Polymers

Large molecules made from repeating smaller units, commonly manufactured using hydrocarbon-derived chemicals.