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Organic Chemistry Essentials Worksheet

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Organic Chemistry Essentials Worksheet

At a cycling race, Nathan and Ngaio check the materials and supplies used by the team. Read the briefing, then use the clues in each question to explain the organic chemistry behind them. Show your reasoning where asked.

Briefing: carbon compounds on the course

Organic chemistry studies most compounds containing carbon. Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds, including bonds to other carbon atoms, allowing chains and rings to form. A hydrocarbon contains only carbon and hydrogen. Alkanes have only single carbon-carbon bonds; for open-chain alkanes, the general formula is CₙH₂ₙ₊₂. Alkenes contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Functional groups give families of organic compounds characteristic features: alcohols contain –OH, carboxylic acids contain –COOH, and amines commonly contain –NH₂. Complete combustion of a hydrocarbon in plentiful oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. Polymers are large molecules made from many smaller repeating units called monomers.

Read the evidence

The support team checks four substances: A is C₄H₁₀, a fuel component; B is C₂H₄, a gas used to make a common plastic; C is CH₃CH₂OH, an alcohol used in some cleaning products; and D is CH₃COOH, the acid that gives vinegar its sour taste.

1.Substance A is C₄H₁₀. Which family does it belong to, and what feature of its formula supports your choice?
2.Substance B is C₂H₄. Choose the best explanation for why it is an alkene.
  • It contains only carbon and hydrogen, so every hydrocarbon is an alkene.
  • It fits CₙH₂ₙ and contains a carbon-carbon double bond.
  • It contains an –OH group.
  • It contains a carbon-carbon triple bond.
3.Match each organic family to the functional group or structural feature that identifies it.
  • Alcohol
  • Carboxylic acid
  • Alkene
  • Amine
  • C=C
  • –NH₂
  • –OH
  • –COOH
4.Substance C is CH₃CH₂OH. Name its organic family and identify the group in its formula that gives it away.
5.Substance D is CH₃COOH. Name its organic family and explain which part of the formula is the functional group.
6.A hydrocarbon fuel burns completely in plentiful oxygen. Name the two products and write a word equation for the reaction.
7.Explain why incomplete combustion of a carbon-based fuel can be dangerous. Name one harmful product that may form.
8.Ethene molecules can join together to form polyethene. What is the name for a small molecule such as ethene before it joins, and what is the name for the large molecule formed?
9.Ethanol contains an –OH group, while ethane does not. Explain how the –OH group can affect ethanol’s interactions with water.
10.The cycling team needs a lightweight, durable drink bottle. Recommend one sensible property of a synthetic polymer that suits this job, then give one environmental consideration the team should keep in mind in Aotearoa New Zealand.

3 printable pages

  • Organic Chemistry Essentials Worksheet, page 1 of 3: Briefing: carbon compounds on the course, Read the evidence

    Page 1

  • Organic Chemistry Essentials Worksheet, page 2 of 3: 3. Match each organic family to the functional group or structural feature that…

    Page 2

  • Organic Chemistry Essentials Worksheet, page 3 of 3: 9. Ethanol contains an –OH group, while ethane does not. Explain how the –OH group can…

    Page 3

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