Hydrocarbons – Alkane Properties and Combustion Bench
ChemistryOrganic ChemistryAges 14–15Virtual lab
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A virtual bench for hydrocarbons: compare the boiling point, viscosity and flammability of alkanes as the chain gets longer; burn carbon, sulfur, methane, butane or octane with plentiful or limited oxygen and test the products with anhydrous copper(II) sulfate or cobalt chloride paper, indicator and limewater; spot the carbon monoxide and soot of incomplete combustion and compare the energy released. Includes a test for carbon in organic compounds and a task sorting hydrocarbons into aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic.
Lesson: Alkanes: physical properties and combustion
What it shows
This virtual bench covers the hydrocarbon practicals of a school course. First compare straight-chain alkanes from methane to hexadecane: the boiling point rises with chain length, longer liquids flow more slowly, and only the short ones catch fire at room temperature. Then burn carbon, sulfur, methane, butane or octane while a pump draws the gases through a water test, universal indicator and limewater. Limited oxygen gives carbon monoxide, soot and less energy per gram. A third bench tests samples for carbon by heating them with copper(II) oxide, and a fourth sorts hydrocarbons into aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic.
How to use
On Alkane properties choose an Alkane and press Start experiment to time the flow and try to light it. On Combustion choose the Fuel, the Oxygen supply and the Water test, press Start experiment and read the tests and energy. On Test for carbon choose a Sample and Method. On Classify, tap a structure and choose its class.
Parameters you can change
- Screen Alkane properties, Combustion and product tests, Test for carbon, Classifying hydrocarbons
- Alkane Methane (CH₄), Ethane (C₂H₆), Propane (C₃H₈), Butane (C₄H₁₀), Pentane (C₅H₁₂), Hexane (C₆H₁₄), Heptane (C₇H₁₆), Octane (C₈H₁₈), Nonane (C₉H₂₀), Decane (C₁₀H₂₂), Dodecane (C₁₂H₂₆), Hexadecane (C₁₆H₃₄)
- Fuel Carbon (charcoal), Sulfur, Methane (natural gas), Butane (bottled gas), Octane (liquid fuel)
- Oxygen supply Plentiful oxygen, Limited oxygen
- Water test Anhydrous CuSO₄, CoCl₂ paper
- Sample Sugar (sucrose), Starch, Candle wax (paraffin), Table salt (NaCl), Sand (SiO₂), Chalk (CaCO₃)
- Method Heat the sample, Heat with CuO
Questions to explore
- Why does the boiling point of the alkanes rise as the carbon chain gets longer?
- Which products show that methane contains both carbon and hydrogen, and how is each one tested?
- Why does burning a fuel with limited oxygen release less energy per gram and produce carbon monoxide?
