Hydrocarbons
I can describe alkanes and represent the first four by name, molecular formulae and displayed formulae.
Hydrocarbons
I can describe alkanes and represent the first four by name, molecular formulae and displayed formulae.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hydrocarbons are simple covalent compounds made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
- Hydrocarbons are found in crude oil, and are used as fuels and feedstock.
- Alkanes consist of chains, or rings, of carbon atoms that are each also bonded to hydrogen atoms.
- Alkanes are a homologous series of hydrocarbons, with the same general formula with a trend in properties.
- The general formula for an alkane is CnH2n+2.
Keywords
Hydrocarbon - Simple covalent compounds made of carbon and hydrogen atoms only.
Feedstock - Raw materials used in chemical processes to produce other substances.
Alkane - Saturated hydrocarbons (have only single bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms).
Homologous series - Compounds that have the same general formula, with neighbouring molecules often differing by CH₂, showing similar chemical properties and physical property trends.
Nomenclature - A collection of rules for naming things (in chemistry it refers to the naming of chemical substances).
Common misconception
Students often think that the prefix hydro- in the term hydrocarbons means they contain water; also that hydrocarbons and crude oil are synonymous.
Use diagrams to show hydrocarbon composition and compare crude oil to pure hydrocarbons, highlighting the difference visually.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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