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Alkanes and free-radical substitution

Core organic chemistry · Lesson 2 of 6

Lesson 2 of 6

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Lesson 2 of 6 · Core organic chemistry

Alkanes and free-radical substitution

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Describe the structural features of alkanes, including saturated hydrocarbons containing only single $\mathrm{C-C}$ and $\mathrm{C-H}$ bonds.
Explain the trend in boiling points of alkanes in terms of increasing molecular size and intermolecular London forces.
Write equations for complete and incomplete combustion of alkanes and relate these reactions to the use of alkanes as fuels.

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Evaluate the environmental and health effects of combustion products, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, particulates, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, where these are included by the specification.

Describe the reaction of alkanes with chlorine or bromine in ultraviolet light as a free-radical substitution.

Apply the mechanism of free-radical substitution using the steps initiation, propagation and termination, with correct use of curly arrows and the dot symbol for radicals.

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