Chemistry - Key Stage 4

Organic Chemistry

Uses of hydrocarbons
Worksheet

Miss Mason
Recap
1. Name, draw and write the molecular formula for the first 4 alkanes in the homologous
series.

2. Which fraction from crude oil has the longest chain length? What does this mean about its
boiling point?

3. Which fraction from crude oil has the shortest chain length? What does this mean about
its boiling point?

2
Boiling point
Short-chain hydrocarbons have the _______ boiling points because they have weaker
i________________ f______ which means less _______ is needed to overcome them.
Long-chain hydrocarbons have the _________ boiling points because they have stronger
i_______________ f_______ which means more ________ is needed to overcome them.

If something is a solid at room temperature, it will have a _____ boiling point. If this was
a hydrocarbon, this would mean its chain length would be...

If something is a liquid or gas at room temperature, it will have a _____ boiling point. If
this was a hydrocarbon, this would mean its chain length would be...

3
Viscosity
If something is very viscous, it will be very ______ and not very r______. For example,
b________.

If something is not very viscous, it won’t be very _______ and it will be very r______.
For example, L____ (p______)

Short-chain hydrocarbons are…

Long-chain hydrocarbons are...

4
Flammability

Flammability describes how easy it is for something to…

Short-chain hydrocarbons are _____ flammable than long-chain hydrocarbons which

means they are more useful to us as f_____.

5
Longest chain Shortest chain
length length

Bitumen Diesel Kerosene Naphtha Petrol

Compare the boiling point, viscosity and flammability of bitumen and petrol based on
their chain lengths.

6
 Explain why the characteristics of petrol make it a suitable fuel

7
Balancing combustion equations
Methane + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

8
Balancing combustion equations
Propane + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide + Water

C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

9
1. A hydrocarbon undergoes an incomplete combustion reaction. Write the word equation for
this.

2. Propane reacts with oxygen in a complete combustion reaction. How would this look as a
symbol equation?

3. Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction between ethane and oxygen in a
complete combustion reaction.

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