Contents
Nomenclature and Isomerism
Petroleum and Alkanes
Alkenes and Epoxyethane
Haloalkanes
Alcohols
Nomenclature and Isomerism
The study of the compound of carbon is
called organic chemistry.
Groups of carbon compounds with the
same functional group are called
homologous series
Organic compounds are named according
to their longest carbon chain.
Number 1 2 3 4 5 6
of C
atoms
Prefix Meth- Eth- Pro- But- Pent- Hex-
Nomenclature
Homologous Series General Formula Name Functional group
Aldehyde -al O
±C
H
Ketones -one C=O
CH3
CH3 ±CH2 ±CH2 ±CH3 CH3 ±CH ±CH3
The number 2 indicates that the methyl group is attached to the second carbon.
Carbons are always number so that the lowest numbers appear in the name.
This type of isomerism is called structural isomerism
Positional isomers have functional groups at different positions along the chain
Functional group isomers have different functional groups but have the same
molecular formulae, such as acids and esters
Petroleum and Alkanes
Petroleum
Combustion
Pollution
Petroleum
Petroleum is another name for crude oil, it is a mixture of
hydrocarbons.
The hydrocarbons in crude oil all have different boiling
points, this property allows them to be separated by a
process call fractional distillation.
Fractional distillation produces more long chain
hydrocarbons than the market requires. They are made
into shorter more useful molecules by a process called
cracking.
Thermal cracking splits the bonds in the hydrocarbon by
a free radical process this uses a lot of energy because
of the high temperatures used.
Zeolite catalysts can be used to lower the temperature of
the cracking process. It proceeds via ionic intermediates.
Combustion
In excess oxygen alkanes burn according
to the following equation:
CnH2n+2 +(1.5n+0.5)O2 Ò nCO2 +(n+1)H2O
This is called complete combustion,
however if there is in sufficient oxygen
present incomplete combustion can occur.
CnH2n+2 +(n+0.5)O2 Ò nCO +(n+1)H2O
With even less oxygen soot is formed.
Pollution
Many pollutants are formed by the combustion of fossil
fuels. These include soot and carbon monoxide formed
by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons.
Besides making every thing look dirty carbon particulates
in the atmosphere cause breathing problems in those
who are susceptible.
Carbon monoxide interferes with the blood¶s ability to
carry oxygen and in severe case can lead to death.
Other harmful gases include:
± sulphur dioxide which is formed by the oxidation of impurities in
fossil fuels
± and nitrogen oxides which are formed atmospheric nitrogen is
oxidised during the combustion process.
Both of these species react with rain water to form acid
rain.
Alkenes and Epoxyethane
Alkenes are unsaturated. This means that they
do not have the maximum possible number of
hydrogen atoms.
The double bond in in alkenes is comprised of a
covalent bond and a pi bond. The pi bond has
electron density above and below the covalent
bond and is weaker than a covalent bond.
Because of the weaker second bond alkenes
are more reactive than alkanes.
There is no rotation around the double bond, this
causes alkenes to have a planar shape.
meactions of Alkenes
alkane
+H2 catalyst
H H Heat & pressure
H OH
±C ±C ±
±C ±C ±
H H n
+steam &
Catalyst & C=C
memember in the catalyst
heat
presence of alkenes
bromine water
decolourises +Br2 +HCl
H Cl
Br Br
±C ±C ± ±C ±C ±
O
Epoxyethane CH CH
2 2
C C OH C C OH C C OH
H C C