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; NOx = 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