1. Module 5

1.15. Page 4

Module 5 Lesson 3

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

Lesson Summary


In Lesson 3 you considered the following questions:

  • What are alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkenes, and cycloalkynes?
  • How is the structure of an unsaturated hydrocarbon communicated?
  • What is the abundance and significance of unsaturated hydrocarbons?
  • How does industry use alkenes and alkynes?

Alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkenes, and cycloalkynes are classes of hydrocarbon molecules that possess double or triple bonds. Molecules of these classes exhibit properties that make them highly useful in industrial processes.

 

In this lesson you were introduced to the procedures used to name and write the structures for these compounds. You also learned about some chemical reaction types that are used in their production and use. In Module 6 you will learn more about the reactivity and chemical processes involving these unsaturated hydrocarbons.

 

Lesson Glossary

 

cracking: a process in which larger hydrocarbon molecules are converted into smaller hydrocarbon molecules