Alkane

1 Chloroethane is used as a starting material for the production of time-release capsules in

pharmaceutical products. One way of preparing chloroethane is to react chlorine and ethane in the
presence of ultraviolet light. Which statement is correct about the first stage of the mechanism of
this reaction?
A The Cl Cl bond is split homolytically.
B The Cl Cl bond is split heterolytically.
C The C H bond is split homolytically.
D The C H bond is split heterolytically.
2

The complete combustion of alkanes to produce carbon dioxide and water is an important exothermic
reaction.
Which line on the graph shows the relationship between the number of carbon atoms in the alkane
and the number of moles of oxygen gas needed for complete combustion of the alkane?

3. Which compound could not be obtained from cracking a sample of nonane,

CH3(CH2)7CH3?
A CH3CH=CHCH=CHCH2CH2CH2CH3
B CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3
C CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH=CH2
D (CH3CH2CH2)3CH
4. Which reaction in the catalytic converter does not remove hazardous and polluting
gases from the exhaust fumes of a motor car?

These equations are qualitative and unbalanced. [HC = unburnt hydrocarbons; NO x =

oxides of nitrogen]
A HC + NOx H2O + CO + N2
B CO + NOx CO2 + N2
C HC + NOx H2O + CO2 + N2
D CO + O2 CO2

5. How many different substitution products are possible, in principle, when a mixture of
bromine and ethane is allowed to react?
A3
B5
C7
D9
6. Which reaction occurs with saturated hydrocarbons?
A catalytic hydrogenation
B ready decolourisation of aqueous bromine
C polymerisation
D thermal cracking
7. The reaction of chlorine with methane is carried out in the presence of light.
What is the function of the light?
A to break the C H bonds in methane
B to break up the chlorine molecules into atoms
C to break up the chlorine molecules into ions
D to heat up the mixture
8. Light initiates the following reaction.
alkane + chlorine chloroalkane + hydrogen chloride
What happens to chlorine in this photochemical reaction?
A heterolytic fission to give an electrophile
B homolytic fission to give an electrophile
C heterolytic fission to give a free radical
D homolytic fission to give a free radical
9. High-energy irradiation in the stratosphere produces radicals from chlorofluoroalkanes,
commonly known as CFCs.
Which radical could result from this irradiation of CHFClCF2Cl?

10

When octane is subjected to catalytic cracking, which compounds can be obtained?

1 CH2=CH2
2 CH3CH2CH=CH2
3 CH3(CH2)4CH3

11. Which compounds may result from mixing ethane and chlorine in the presence of
sunlight?
1 CH3CH2Cl
2 CH3CH2CH2CH3
3 CH3CHCl CHCl CH3
12. Modern cars are fitted with catalytic converters. These remove carbon monoxide,
unburnt hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen from exhaust gases.

Which of these pollutant gases are removed by oxidation?

1 carbon monoxide
2 hydrocarbons
3 nitrogen oxides