What is organic chemistry? 

Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies molecules containing carbon atoms.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is a hydrocarbon?

A hydrocarbon is any compound which only contains carbon and hydrogen atoms. E.g. C10H22

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is a homologous series?

A homologous series is a group of organic compounds that have similar chemical properties, due to them having the same functional group.


They will all have the same general formula, and differ by CH2. 

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is an alkane?

An alkane is a saturated hydrocarbon (saturated means no double bonds).

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What are the first 4 alkanes?

1 carbon - Methane

2 carbons - Ethane

3 carbons - Propane

4 carbons - Butane

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is a general formula?

A general formula is like a molecular formula, but for a whole homologous series.


It tells you the ratio between each type of atom, using algebra. For example:


CnH2n


CnH2n+1OH'.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the general formula for alkanes?

CnH2n+2

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What are the 3 properties of short hydrocarbons?

  1. Volatile - low boiling point.
  2. Runny - low viscosity (not thick & gloopy).
  3. Flammable.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What does the term 'saturated' mean when talking about hydrocarbons?

Saturated means that there are no carbon-carbon double bonds.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

Are alkanes saturated or unsaturated?

Alkanes are saturated as they don't have any carbon-carbon double bonds.

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.

What is the structure of propane?

Propane: C3H8

Answer in your head, out loud, or on paper, then tap the card to flip.