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Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock key terms
Study Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.
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key terms
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Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock
Key terms
family of compounds
A group of related molecules that share a common structural feature or functional group, such as alkanes or alkenes, which arise from carbon atoms arranging in similar patterns.
homologous series
A sequence of organic compounds where each successive member differs by a constant unit (CH₂), leading to systematic changes in properties across the series.
Fractional distillation
A process used to separate a mixture into its component fractions based on differences in boiling points.
Evaporation
The process by which molecules in a liquid gain enough energy to enter the gaseous state.
boiling point
The temperature at which a liquid turns into vapor.
viscosity
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.
boiling point
The temperature at which a liquid turns into vapor, which increases with the size of hydrocarbon molecules.
molecular size
The size of a molecule, which affects properties such as boiling point, viscosity, and flammability in hydrocarbons.
Viscosity
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, which increases with larger hydrocarbon molecule size.
Molecular size
The size of a molecule, which affects properties such as viscosity in hydrocarbons.
Flammability
The ability of a substance to burn when exposed to a flame or spark.
Molecular size
The number of carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon molecule, which influences its physical properties.
combustion
The chemical reaction where hydrocarbons react with oxygen to release energy.
hydrocarbon
A compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
oxidation
A chemical reaction where a substance loses electrons, often involving the reaction of a substance with oxygen.
combustion
A chemical process in which a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy.
complete combustion
The reaction of a hydrocarbon with oxygen that produces carbon dioxide and water.
carbon dioxide
A colorless gas produced during the complete combustion of hydrocarbons, represented by the formula CO2.
complete combustion
A chemical reaction where a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
balanced equation
An equation that has the same number of atoms of each element on both sides, representing the conservation of mass.
hydrocarbon
A compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
combustion
A chemical reaction that occurs when a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen, producing energy, carbon dioxide, and water.
Cracking
The process of breaking down larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules.
Alkenes
Unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, making them more reactive than alkanes.
Catalytic cracking
A method of breaking down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules using a catalyst.
Steam cracking
A method of cracking hydrocarbons by heating them with steam to produce smaller molecules.
Catalytic cracking
A method of breaking down large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more useful molecules using a catalyst.
Steam cracking
A process that uses high temperatures and steam to break down large hydrocarbons into smaller molecules.
Alkane
A saturated hydrocarbon with only single C–C bonds and the general formula CnH2n+2.
Alkene
An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one C=C double bond, making it more reactive than alkanes.
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