Section C: Free-Response Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. The table below shows the boiling points (in kelvin) of five hydrocarbons. (The kelvin (K) is the S.I.
unit for temperature.)

Hydrocarbon A B C D E
Number of carbon atoms per molecule 2 3 4 5 6
Boiling point/K 160 250 267 303 337

(a) Plot a graph of boiling point against number of carbon atoms for these hydrocarbons.

Boiling point/K

350

300

250

200

150

100
2 3 4 5 6
Number of carbon atoms per molecule

(b) (i) Four of the five hydrocarbons are alkenes. Which hydrocarbon is not an alkene?

(ii) Explain your answer in (i).

The boiling points of the members of a homologous series gradually increase with the number of

carbon atoms in each molecule. Only B does not fall within the graph, hence it is not an alkene.

148 Worksheet 18 © 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

 (c) The boiling point of an alkene is 160 K. Calculate the relative molecular mass of the product
obtained when this alkene reacts with excess aqueous bromine.
From the table given, the alkene is ethene, C2H4.
C2H4 + Br2 C2H4Br2
Relative molecular mass of the product, C2H4Br2 = (2 × 12) + (4 × 1) + (2 × 80)
= 188

(d) The mass of 0.125 mol of an alkene is 7.0 g.

(i) Identify this alkene.

Relative molecular mass of the alkene = 7.0

0.125
= 56
The general formula of an alkene is CnH2n.
12n + 2n = 56
14n = 56
n =4
There are four carbon atoms in each molecule of the alkene.
∴ The alkene is butene.

(ii) What is the boiling point of this alkene?

267 K

2. (a) What is meant by ‘polyunsaturated’ when applied to food products?

It means that the food products contain polyunsaturated fats and oils. The hydrocarbon chains in

these fats and oils contain more than one carbon–carbon double bond.

(b) Describe how margarine is produced.

Margarine is produced by the addition of hydrogen to unsaturated vegetable oil (hydrogenation).

A temperature of 200°C and a nickel catalyst are needed for hydrogenation to occur.

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited Worksheet 18 149