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What must you be able to do? identify the types of reactions that hydrocarbons undergo. explain what happens during each type of reaction. compare the reactivity of different hydrocarbons.
Alkanes undergo: Combustion (or oxidations) reactions. Elimination reactions. Substitution reactions
COMBUSTION (OXIDATION) REACTIONS: Alkanes react with oxygen in the air and form carbon dioxide and water. The reaction is exothermic and a great deal of energy is released. Methane burns with a blue flame. CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + H2O + energy
Propane is the gas used in bunsen burners in the laboratory. Propane burns as follows:
Butane is the fuel in Bic lighters. 2C4H10 + 13O2 8CO2 + 10H2O + energy
ELIMINATION REACTIONS: During these reactions an unsaturated molecule is formed as well as a second small molecule (eg. H2 or H2O) Cracking (heating to a high temperature) produces unsaturated products:
High temperature
CH3CH3
CH2 = CH2 + H2
SUBSTITUTION REACTIONS: During these reactions a hydrogen atom is replaced by a halogen atom, forming a halo -alkane molecule. Activation energy, in the form of sunlight or heat is needed to start the reaction. CH4 + Cl2 CH3Cl
Haloalkanes are important compounds that are used as anesthetics (trichloromethane), solvents and dry cleaning agents.
Tetrachloroethane Trichloromethane (chloroform)
Halo-ethane
Alkenes undergo: Combustion (or oxidations) reactions. Addition reactions. Addition polymerisation reactions
COMBUSTION (OXIDATION) REACTIONS: Alkenes react with oxygen in the air and form carbon dioxide and water. The reaction is exothermic and a great deal of energy is released. Ethene burns with a blue flame. CH2 = CH2 + 3O2 2CO2 + 2H2O + energy
ADDITION REACTIONS Unsaturated hydrocarbons undergo addition reactions when the double bond opens and extra atoms add onto the 2 carbon atoms that were previously joined by a double bond. Halogen atoms and hydrogen atoms can be added into the original molecule.
CH2 = CH2 + HCl Cl CH2 CH3 CH2 = CH2 + Br2 Br CH2 CH2 - Br The addition of hydrogen to an unsaturated molecule is known as HYDROGENATION. CH2 = CH2 + H2 CH3 CH3 ethene ethane
The hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils hardens the oils and forms margarine. The oils become more saturated.
ADDITION POLYMERISATION During these reactions monomers (small unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules) add to themselves to form polymers. Polypropylene is formed when propylene molecules join to form long chains of repeating units:
- CH2CH(CH3) CH2CH(CH3)- CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3) - etc
Ethyne can be prepared by adding water to calcium carbide: CaC2 + H2O Ca(OH)2 + C2H2 Ethyne is used, along with oxygen, in an oxy-acetylene torch, which is used to cut metals. The ethyne undergoes combustion, releasing a great deal of energy. 2C2H2 + 5O2 4CO2 + H2O H = - 1 310kJ/mol
During addition reactions atoms are added into the molecule in place of the triple bond. A double C=C bond remains.
REACTIONS OF ALCOHOLS Ethanol can be oxidised to ethanal (an aldehyde): CH3COOH + 8H+ + Cr2O72- 3CH3CHO + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O Alcohols react with carboxylic acids to form an ester.