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ABSTRACT
The objectives of this experiment are to differentiate alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons through their
properties, to visualize the characteristic reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons, and to prepare
acetylene gas. Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only. They are generally classified as
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic. Hydrocarbons may be differentiated in terms of their physical and chemical properties.
In the experiment, we performed certain tests to distinguish hydrocarbons. Flammability test was the first test we performed
for the test compounds namely cyclohexane, cyclohexene and benzene. The second test was solubility which all hydrocarbons
are insoluble in water. We observe the reaction of the test compounds in bromination, oxidation and sulphuric acid test.
Preparation and test of properties of acetylene was also performed in the experiement. Unsaturated compounds are
compounds that have carbon-carbon multiple bonds and produce soot when ignited. Also, hydrocarbons are insoluble in water
since they are nonpolar compounds and they cannot form hydrogen bonds. Acetylene is a linear molecule, all four atoms lying
along a straight line. Concepts and relationship of hydrocarbons were learned and observed in this experiment.
Keywords: hydrocarbons, alkanes, alkenes, aromatic, saturated, unsaturated, bromination, oxidation, acetylene, flammability
INTRODUCTION
The purposes of this experiment are to differentiate
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons
through their properties, to visualize the characteristic
reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic
hydrocarbons, and to prepare acetylene gas.
Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and
hydrogen atoms only. They are generally classified as
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic. Hydrocarbons
may be differentiated in terms of their physical and
chemical properties. Among the more useful physical
properties that distinguish hydrocarbons are flammability
and solubility. They are extremely important to our society
because so many products are derived from them: fuels,
fabrics, plastics, antifreezes, anaesthetics, insecticides,
to name a few. The major source of aliphatic
hydrocarbons is petroleum, an extremely complex
mixture of compounds. Each of us, on the average, uses
several tons of petroleum each year (directly or
indirectly), mostly for fuel. Aromatic hydrocarbons are
mainly obtained from coal, although small amounts are
also obtained from petroleum.
The physical properties of alkenes and alkynes are
generally similar to those of alkanes or cycloalkanes with
equal numbers of carbon atoms. Alkynes have higher
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After the test for the physical properties, the second part
of the experiment was the reactions of alkane, alkene,
and aromatic hydrocarbons. The first part was
bromination, 2 drops of each of the test compounds was
placed in separate micro test tubes. 1.0 M bromine in
CCl4 was added drop by drop and the change was
observed. The observations were recorded. The second
part was oxidation, the procedure is the same as the
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Bromination
No reaction
Lighter
No
reaction
Oxidation
No reaction
With brown
precipitate
decolourization
No
reaction
Reaction with
conc. H2SO4
No reaction
With reaction
No
reaction
COMPOUND
Flammability
OBSERVATIONS
Cyclohexane Cyclohexene
Yellow
flame, no
Yellow
soot
flame, with
soot
Benzene
Yellow
flame,
more soot
Solubility
Immiscible
Immiscible
Immiscible
COMPOUNDS
OBSERVATIONS
Cyclohexane
Cyclohexene
REACTIONS
OBSERVATIONS
Bromination
Oxidation
Benzene
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CONCLUSION
The objectives of this experiment are to differentiate
alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons
through their properties, to visualize the characteristic
reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic
hydrocarbons, and to prepare acetylene gas. These
objectives were achieved during the experiment since we
are able to differentiate alkanes, alkenes and aromatic
compounds using their physical properties. We also
visualize the reactions of hydrocarbons. Lastly, we are
able to prepare and test the properties of acetylene gas. I
learned that unsaturated compounds are compounds that
have carbon-carbon multiple bonds and produce soot
when ignited. Also, hydrocarbons are insoluble in water
since they are nonpolar compounds and they cannot form
hydrogen bonds. Acetylene is a linear molecule, all four
atoms lying along a straight line. This linear structure can
only be explained by the existence of sp hybridisation of
the orbitals of the carbon atoms of ethyne. Therefore,
acetylene is an alkyne. I have learned many things about
the properties, reactions and relationships about
hydrocarbons. These concepts can be helpful in the
future for us chemical engineering students.
REFERENCES
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