C10 Organic Chemistry – General Concepts and Alkanes

C13.1    General concepts:

1. Know that crude oil is the main source of hydrocarbons and that it is separated into fractions by fractional distillation (names and uses of specific fractions not expected).
2. Understand the link between carbon chain length and the following trends in physical properties of hydrocarbons: boiling points, viscosity, flammability.
3. Know the use of longer chain alkanes in cracking to form shorter chain alkanes and alkenes, and be able to write balanced chemical equations for these reactions.
4. Understand structural isomerism and be able to recognise examples.
5. Understand and be able to use the following terms: molecular formula, full structural formula (displayed structure) and condensed structural formula.
6. Understand and be able to use the terms complete combustion and incomplete combustion, and be able to write balanced chemical equations for such reactions.
7. Know the IUPAC guidelines for the systematic naming of carbon compounds and apply the guidelines in order to be able to name all the compounds in this section of the specification.
8. Know and understand the terms homologous series and functional group.

C13.2    Alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons):

1. Describe alkanes as a homologous series with the general formula of $\mathrm{C}_{\mathrm{n}} \mathrm{H}_{2 \mathrm{n}+2}$.
2. Be able to name, or recognise from the name, the $\mathrm{C1}$ to $\mathrm{C6}$ straight-chain alkanes.