Alkanes
11.4What the syllabus asks of you
- State that the bonding in alkanes is single covalent and that alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons
- Describe the properties of alkanes as being generally unreactive, except in terms of combustion and substitution by chlorine
- State that in a substitution reaction one atom or group of atoms is replaced by another atom or group of atoms
- Describe the substitution reaction of alkanes with chlorine as a photochemical reaction, with ultraviolet light providing the activation energy, Ea, and draw the structural or displayed formulae of the products, limited to monosubstitution
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Chapter 11: Alkanes
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Every question on Alkanes, untimed, marked as you go.
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23 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q33Show mark scheme →
ATwo of the products of the reaction between propane and chlorine have the molecular formula C3H7Cl.
BEach carbon atom in a propane molecule has only one pair of bonding electrons.
CThe reaction between propane and chlorine is an example of photosynthesis with ultraviolet radiation providing the activation energy.
DPropane can undergo combustion, substitution and addition reactions depending on the conditions.
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2Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q33Show mark scheme →
ACH3CH3 + Cl2 → CH3CH3Cl + Cl
BCH3CH3 + Cl2 → CH3CH2Cl + HCl
CCH3CH3 + Cl2 → CH2ClCH2Cl + H2
DCH3CH3 + Cl2 → CH2CH2 + 2HCl
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q30Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AEthane reacts with chlorine in an addition reaction.
BPropane has a higher boiling point than butane.
CThe molecule of the alkane that contains 99 carbon atoms has 200 hydrogen atoms.
DThere are three isomers with the formula C4H10.
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4May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q35Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C2 and 3 only
D3 only
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5May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
Astatement 1: a carbon atom is replaced by a chlorine atom; statement 2: the reaction requires thermal energy
Bstatement 1: a hydrogen atom is replaced by a chlorine atom; statement 2: the reaction requires thermal energy
Cstatement 1: a carbon atom is replaced by a chlorine atom; statement 2: the reaction requires ultraviolet light
Dstatement 1: a hydrogen atom is replaced by a chlorine atom; statement 2: the reaction requires ultraviolet light
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6May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q35Show mark scheme →
AC3H6
BC3H8
CC4H8
DC4H10
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7May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 3
C2 and 3
D2 only
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8May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
AC3H8 + Cl2 → C3H7Cl + HCl
BC2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
CC2H4 + Br2 → C2H4Br2
DC6H12O6 → 2CO2 + 2C2H5OH
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9Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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10May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AC2H6 + Cl2 -> C2H6Cl2
BC2H6 + Cl2 -> C2H4Cl2 + H2
CC2H6 + Cl2 -> C2H5Cl + HCl
DC2H6 + Cl2 -> 2CH3Cl
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11May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q35Show mark scheme →
AEach ethane molecule contains exactly seven bonds, all of which are single covalent bonds.
BEthane is a member of the homologous series of alkanes, a family of unsaturated hydrocarbons.
CThe equation for the complete combustion of ethane is C2H6 + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O.
DWhen a molecule of ethane reacts with chlorine, one hydrogen atom is replaced by a chlorine molecule.
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12Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AC8H16, higher than butane
BC8H16, lower than butane
CC8H18, lower than butane
DC8H18, higher than butane
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13Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q37Show mark scheme →
AC3H6 + Cl2 → C3H6Cl2
BC3H8 + Cl2 → C3H6Cl2 + H2
CC3H8 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + C2H5Cl
DC3H8 + Cl2 → C3H7Cl + HCl
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14Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q36Show mark scheme →
ACH2CHCH2CH3
BCH3CH(CH3)CH3
CCH3CHCHCH3
D(CH3)2CCH2
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15Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q36Show mark scheme →
AAlkanes are described as being saturated because they are insoluble in water.
BAlkanes react with chlorine in an addition reaction.
CThe alkane containing 10 carbon atoms in each molecule has a higher viscosity than the alkane containing 20 carbon atoms.
DThe formula of an alkane with 35 carbon atoms in each molecule is C35H72.
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16May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q35Also set in May / June 2021 Paper 11, May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A1
B2
C3
D4
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17Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q34Show mark scheme →
ACl2 + CH4 → CH2Cl2 + H2; methane and chlorine gases are mixed in the presence of ultraviolet light
BCl2 + CH4 → CH2Cl2 + H2; methane is bubbled into concentrated aqueous chlorine
CCl2 + CH4 → CH3Cl + HCl; methane and chlorine gases are mixed in the presence of ultraviolet light
DCl2 + CH4 → CH3Cl + HCl; methane is bubbled into concentrated aqueous chlorine
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18Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
ACH3CCl2CH3
BCH2ClCH2Cl
CCH3CH2CH3Cl
DCH3CHClCH2CH3
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19May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q33Show mark scheme →
AC3H6
BC3H8
CC4H8
DC4H10
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20May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
AIt can be polymerised.
BIt decolourises bromine water.
CIt has three isomers.
DIt reacts with chlorine by substitution.
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21Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q35Show mark scheme →
AIt is a saturated hydrocarbon.
BIt is an alkene.
CIt is an isomer of butane.
DIt will undergo addition with hydrogen.
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22Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
AAlkanes are unsaturated hydrocarbons.
BAlkanes all have the general formula CnH2n.
CThe boiling points decrease as the number of carbon atoms per molecule increases.
DThe liquid alkanes become more viscous as the mass of the molecules increases.
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23Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q35Show mark scheme →
AS: ethane, T: propane
BS: ethene, T: propene
CS: propane, T: ethane
DS: propene, T: ethene
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