Free Alkanes MCQs with Answers

127 Alkanes MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons containing only carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen single bonds, with the general formula CnH2n+2 for open chains. Their structure, isomerism, IUPAC nomenclature, physical properties, combustion, free-radical halogenation and conformations are covered, including the difference between substitution in alkanes and addition in unsaturated hydrocarbons.

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127 questions · page 2 of 7

  • A. Petrol
  • B. Sediment
  • C. Rock
  • D. Fuel

Explanation: The word petroleum comes from Latin roots: petra means rock and oleum means oil, giving the meaning “rock oil.” Therefore, petra refers to…

Correct answer: Rock
  • A. Angle strain
  • B. Torsional strain
  • C. Steric strain
  • D. Orbital strain

Explanation: The gauche conformation of butane places the two terminal methyl groups close together, causing repulsive van der Waals interactions…

Correct answer: Steric strain
  • A. 2-methyl octane
  • B. n-heptane
  • C. iso-octane
  • D. 3-methyl octane

Explanation: The octane-number scale assigns 0 to n-heptane and 100 to iso-octane, or 2,2,4-trimethylpentane. Therefore option b is correct.

Correct answer: n-heptane
  • A. 2 moles of ethane
  • B. 1 mole of ethane
  • C. 2 moles of butane
  • D. 1 mole of butane

Explanation: The Wurtz reaction couples two ethyl groups: 2 C2H5Cl + 2 Na → C2H5-C2H5 + 2 NaCl.

Correct answer: 1 mole of butane
  • A. acidic
  • B. basic
  • C. aqueous
  • D. dry

Explanation: Wurtz synthesis uses dry ether because sodium reacts vigorously with water and moisture, which would consume the metal and interfere with…

Correct answer: dry
  • A. methane
  • B. ethane
  • C. propane
  • D. butane

Explanation: Nascent hydrogen reduces ethyl chloride by replacing the chlorine atom with hydrogen: C2H5Cl + 2[H] -> C2H6 + HCl, so ethane is formed.

Correct answer: ethane
  • A. CO2 and H2O
  • B. CH3OH
  • C. CO + H2 + C
  • D. CO + H2O + C

Explanation: Under controlled limited oxidation, methane can be partially oxidised to methanol: 2CH4 + O2 -> 2CH3OH, rather than being completely…

Correct answer: CH3OH
  • A. 2
  • B. 3
  • C. 4
  • D. 6

Explanation: Methane, ethane, propane and butane, containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, are gases at ordinary room temperature because their weak…

Correct answer: 4
  • A. CaO and KOH
  • B. CaO and NaOH
  • C. NaOH and Na2O
  • D. Na2O and KOH

Explanation: Soda lime is a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide, NaOH + CaO; calcium oxide keeps the mixture dry and increases its…

Correct answer: CaO and NaOH
  • A. alkene
  • B. alkyl
  • C. aldehyde
  • D. saturated hydrocarbon

Explanation: Removing one hydrogen atom from an alkane leaves an alkyl group, written as R-, which has one unpaired valence available for bonding.

Correct answer: alkyl
  • A. C2H6
  • B. C2H4
  • C. C2H2
  • D. CH4

Explanation: Methane is the principal feedstock for making hydrogen and synthesis gas, which are used to produce ammonia; ammonia then reacts with…

Correct answer: CH4
  • A. alkane
  • B. alkene
  • C. alkyne
  • D. aldehydes

Explanation: Hydrogenolysis cleaves a carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bond in the presence of hydrogen, and reduction of suitable organic compounds…

Correct answer: alkane
  • A. iso-alkane
  • B. normal-alkane
  • C. neo-alkane
  • D. branched-alkane

Explanation: An iso-alkane has a methyl branch on the second carbon from the end, giving an isopropyl-type end arrangement such as 2-methylpropane.

Correct answer: iso-alkane
  • A. 10%
  • B. 15%
  • C. 20%
  • D. 30%

Explanation: Fractional distillation separates crude petroleum into fractions according to boiling range, and gasoline commonly makes up about 20% of…

Correct answer: 20%
  • A. n-pentane
  • B. iso-heptane
  • C. iso-octane
  • D. n-heptane

Explanation: Straight-chain hydrocarbons knock more readily because their combustion is less smooth and they have lower octane numbers than highly…

Correct answer: n-heptane
  • A. Al2O3
  • B. Fe2O3
  • C. Al2O3 and SiO2
  • D. Fe2O3 and SiO2

Explanation: Catalytic cracking converts large hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful molecules at comparatively low temperature and pressure using a…

Correct answer: Al2O3 and SiO2
  • A. earth layer
  • B. mountains
  • C. sedimentary rocks
  • D. rocks

Explanation: Crude oil formed from buried organic matter that underwent decay and geological transformation in sedimentary rocks.

Correct answer: sedimentary rocks
  • A. animals
  • B. fossils
  • C. wood
  • D. all of the above

Explanation: Coal is a fossil fuel formed mainly from the long-term burial, pressure and heating of ancient plant material, especially wood and…

Correct answer: wood
  • A. catenation
  • B. hybridization
  • C. polymerization
  • D. solvation

Explanation: Catenation is the ability of carbon atoms to bond with one another repeatedly, forming straight, branched and cyclic chains.

Correct answer: catenation
  • A. 100
  • B. 90
  • C. 80
  • D. 70

Explanation: 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane is iso-octane, the standard reference fuel assigned an octane number of 100.

Correct answer: 100