Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 1CH0
Key Concepts in Chemistry
States of Matter and Mixtures
Chemical Changes
Extracting Metals and Equilibria
Transition Metals, Quantitative Chemistry and Industrial Processes
Groups in the Periodic Table
Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes
Fuels and Earth Science
Chemical Analysis, Organic Chemistry and Materials
Fuels and Earth Science
Properties of the fractions and homologous series
- 3 things to know
- Paper 2
Overview
How molecule size changes down the column and affects boiling point, ease of ignition and viscosity, why petrol suits car engines, and homologous series, the CH₂ difference, the alkane general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ and trends along a series.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Explain why larger hydrocarbon molecules have higher boiling points.
Describe how the ease of ignition of hydrocarbons changes as their molecules get larger.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Describe how the size of hydrocarbon molecules changes down a fractionating column.
Model answer
Molecules collected lower down contain more carbon and hydrogen atoms than those collected higher up.
- 2
Explain why larger hydrocarbon molecules have higher boiling points.
Model answer
Larger molecules have stronger forces of attraction between them, so more energy is needed to separate them.
- 3
Describe how the ease of ignition of hydrocarbons changes as their molecules get larger.
Model answer
Larger hydrocarbon molecules become harder to ignite.
- 4
What is meant by the viscosity of a liquid?
Model answer
Viscosity is a measure of how easily a liquid flows, and a very viscous liquid flows only slowly.
- 5
Describe how the viscosity of crude oil fractions changes as the molecules get larger.
Model answer
Viscosity increases, so fractions made of larger molecules are thicker and flow less easily.
- 6
Explain why bitumen is far more viscous than petrol.
Model answer
Bitumen molecules are much larger, so the forces of attraction between them are much stronger.
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