12 Alkanes

●● TEST YOURSELF ON PRIOR KNOWLEDGE 1

1 Molecules of methane are held together by van der Waals’ forces. These
are attractive forces which arise from an asymmetry in the electron
cloud of a molecule, which produces an instantaneous dipole. The
instantaneous dipole induces a dipole in a neighbouring molecule which
results in a small force of attraction.
2 a) Butane
b) H
H C H
H H
H C C C H
H H H

H H H H
H C C C C H
H H H H

●● TEST YOURSELF 2
1 a) C14H30
b) It contains atoms of hydrogen and carbon only.
2 a) i) H H H H H

H C C C C C H
1
H H H H H
 ii) H
H C H
H H
H C C C H
H H
H C H
H
iii) H H H H

H C C C C H

H H H H
b) i) The intermolecular forces between molecules of both butane and
pentane are van der Waals’ forces. Van der Waals’ forces increase
with increasing Mr. Pentane has a higher Mr than butane and
therefore a higher degree of van der Waals’ forces
ii) The intermolecular forces between molecules of both pentane
and 2,2-dimethylpropane are van der Waal’s forces. Pentane and
2,2-dimethylpropane are structural isomers therefore the relative
molecular mass of both the molecules is the same. However, the
branched molecule will not be able to approach as closely as the
straight chain molecule therefore the force of attraction due to
van der Waal’s forces between 2,2-dimethylpropane will be less
than the force of attraction between molecules of pentane.
3 A homologous series is a series of carbon-based compounds which
have the same general formula and functional group. They have similar
chemical properties and show a gradation in physical properties with
12 ALKANES

successive members differing by a CH2 group. Alkanes are an example of

a homologous series. All members of the series have the general formula
CnH2n+2 While they do not strictly have a functional group, all alkanes
are saturated hydrocarbons containing only C-C or C-H single bonds.
They all react with halogens in UV light to form the hydrogen halide
and a halogenoalkane. As the series is descended the physical properties
change slightly; the first four members of the alkanes are gases at room
temperature, C5–C17 liquids and the remaining members are waxy solids
2 with increasing melting points.
●● TEST YOURSELF 3

TEST YOURSELF 5
1 a) i) Fractional distillation is the continual evaporation and
condensation of a mixture causing the components to separate
because of a difference in boiling point.
ii) Cracking is a process where a long chain hydrocarbon molecule
is broken into a shorter chain molecule which is in greater
demand because it is more useful.
b) Many of the components of the fractional distillation of crude oil
are not in high demand as they have few uses. These long chain
molecules are cracked into more useful molecules which are in
higher demand.
c) i) Thermal cracking requires a temperature of between 1000K and
1200K and a pressure of 70 atm for a period of 1 second.
ii) These conditions are extreme and could result in the complete
decomposition of the long chain hydrocarbon. By applying these
conditions for a short space of time the molecule is broken into
shorter chains and not into individual atoms.
iii) The product mixture of the thermal cracking process is rich in
alkenes and short chain alkanes
d) C10H22 → C6H14 + 2C2H4

●● TEST YOURSELF 4
1 a) i) C8H18 + 1212O2 → 8CO2 + 9H2O
ii) C8H18 + 812O2 → 8CO + 9H2O
iii) C8H18 + 412O2 → 8C + 9H2O
b) C8H18 + 1012O2 → 4CO2 + 4CO + 9H2O
2 a) Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas which can lead to death but it is
colourless and odourless and cannot be detected by human senses.
b) The gas fired burner must be serviced regularly (once a year) to
certify that it always has a sufficient supply of air to ensure no CO is
produced as part of the combustion process. The exhaust flue must
be clear and all gases produced as part of the combustion process are
exhausted into the open environment.
3 Nitrogen oxides can only be produced in extremely high temperature
environments.
3
4 C6H12S2 + 11O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + 2SO2
5 The alkanes found in vehicle exhaust emissions are unburnt fuel molecules.

●● TEST YOURSELF 5
1 a) A catalytic convertor reduces the amount of carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides and unburnt hydrocarbons released into the air from an
internal combustion engine by converting them into less toxic gases.
 b) i) 2NO(g) + 2CO(g) → 2CO2(g) + N2(g)
ii) 2NO2(g) + 4CO(g) → 4CO2(g) + N2(g)
iii) 2NO(g) + 2CO(g) → 2CO2(g) + N2(g)
iv) C5H12(g) + 16NO → 5CO2(g) + 4N2(g) + 6H2O(g)
c) The catalyst material is expensive. The honeycomb shape gives
the catalyst the maximum surface area thus maximising the rate of
reaction for the minimum amount of catalyst.
d) A thin layer of the catalyst is used. It is coated onto a ceramic
material which is in a honeycomb shape increasing the surface area
and ensuring efficient reaction.

●● ACTIVITY
Burning petrol in car engines
1 2,5-dimethylhexane
2 C8H18
3 Octane;
H H H H H H H H

H C C C C C C C C H

H H H H H H H H
4 2C8H18 + 25O2 → 16CO2 + 18H2O
5 Insufficient oxygen and the temperature is too low to burn all the carbon
– the smoke is particles of carbon
6 Green house effect/global warming/acid rain/smog
7 The straight chain has a higher boiling point. Branching the chain makes
12 ALKANES

the molecule more compact and decrease the surface area over which
intermolecular forces can act, hence the intermolecular forces are smaller
and so the boiling point of a branched molecule is less.
8 Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
9 It provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy.
1.6 = 0.067
10 Moles =
4 24.0
ratio – 4 moles NO :1 mole oxygen
0.068 : 0.017
0.017 × 24 = 0.4 dm3