Studied by 3 people
What are the properties of Alkanes?
almost non-polar
Relatively non reactive (they burn and react with halogens under certain conditions
Insoluble (unable to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules)
Small alkanes are gases at room temperature
Larger alkanes (18 carbons) are solids at room temperature
What is the formula for ring alkanes and why
C(n)H(2n)
There are no hydrogens on the end
What is the angle of a straight chain
109.5 degrees
What is the formula for a straight chain alkane
C(n)H(n+2)
What does the pollutant Sulfur Oxide cause
Photochemical Smog and Acid rain
Why are Sulfur Oxides Dangerous
They bond with the water vapour and the oxygen in the air to form sulfuric acid
What creates excess Carbon Dioxide
Combustion
to generate energy
Why is Carbon Dioxide dangerous
It is a greenhouse gas
what are Particulates and what do they do
Carbon particles
they exacerbate asthma and cause cancer
How is carbon monoxide formed and why is it dangerous
Carbon monoxide is formed through incomplete combustion (when the reaction does not have enough oxygen)
It is poisonous, bonds to the haemoglobin in your red blood cells and causes suffocation
What is the order of a chain reaction
initiation
Propagation
Termination
What is fracking
A process done to collect natural gas from within the rocks
What are the pros of Fracking
increase the supply of gas (reduces imported gas and electricity)
Provides an alternative to coal
Creates Jobs
What are the cons of fracking
Local area may be disturbed (means that one needs a social license to operate)
A large amount of water is used
Chemical additives pollute the water supplies
May cause earthquakes
The methane combusts
What is the process of fracking
Shale is drilled into and pressurised
Water and sand are forced in to fracture the rock
HCl and Methanol are also added to break up shale and prevent corrosion
Gas is then collected
What are the two types of cracking
catalytic
Thermal
What are the conditions required for thermal cracking
High temperatures (700-1200K)
High pressure (7000 kPa / 70 atmospheres)
What are the conditions required for catalytic cracking
Low pressure
high temperature (720 K)
a catalyst (zeolite)
What is produced within thermal cracking
A high portion of Alkenes are produced
How long is an alkane kept in the conditions for thermal cracking for and what happens if it is left in for too long?
one second
If left in for too long there will be too much decomposition
