Student workbook

Bonding workshop
Covalent bonding and hydrocarbons

Contents
è Learning objectives

è Activity 1: hydrocarbons

è Activity 2: structure of hydrocarbons

è Activity 3: simple molecules

è Activity 4: alkanes

è Activity 5: reactions of alkanes

è Activity 6: alkenes

è Activity 7: reactions of alkenes

è Activity 8: functional groups

è Homework activity

1
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Learning objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:

 Explain how a covalent bond is formed between two atoms.

 Construct models for at least three hydrocarbons.
 Draw the displayed structures for three alkanes and three alkenes.
 Work out the structures for at least two additional functional groups and draw their
displayed formulas.

Acknowledgements
This resource was originally developed by Liverpool John Moores University to support outreach work
delivered as part of the Chemistry for All Project.

To find out more about the project, and get more resources to help widen participation, visit our Outreach
resources hub: rsc.li/3CJX7M3.

Unless explicitly stated, all images are © Royal Society of Chemistry.

2
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 1: hydrocarbons
Draw lines to match the terms in the first column with their definition.

a substance formed when two or more different chemical

Elements * *
elements are chemically bonded together

a hydrocarbon containing only single bonds between the

Compound * *
carbon atoms

the simplest substances that cannot be broken down

Hydrocarbon * *
using chemical methods

Saturated
* * a compound containing hydrogen and carbon atoms only
hydrocarbon

Unsaturated a hydrocarbon containing one or more double or triple

* *
hydrocarbon bonds between the carbon atoms

Science communicator
Watch the video on slide 6 of the PowerPoint, also available from rsc.li/3CAOzIi, which
introduces a science communicator. Fernando uses his scientific knowledge to uncover
and translate complicated science for the public.

3
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 2: structure of hydrocarbons

1. Fill in the number of subatomic particles for carbon and hydrogen. Complete the
diagrams below to show the structure of each atom, using an X for the electrons.

(a) Carbon

Composite: © Shutterstock and Royal Society of Chemistry

(b) Hydrogen

Composite: © Shutterstock and Royal Society of Chemistry

Carbon and other non-metallic atoms bond by sharing electrons.

This is known as covalent bonding. Electrons are shared between bonding atoms, so
that all atoms gain the stability of a full outer shell.

4
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

2. Complete the dot and cross diagram to show the bonding that occurs between
carbon and hydrogen in methane. Use dots to show the electrons in carbon and
crosses to show the electrons in hydrogen.

5
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 3: simple molecules

In molymod kits each ball represents an atom and each stick represents a bonding pair
of electrons.

Molymod atoms

Colour of ball Atom name Chemical symbol Number of bonds

hydrogen H 1

carbon C 4

oxygen O 2

nitrogen N 3

sulfur S 2

chlorine Cl 1

iodine I 1

aluminium Al 4

6
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

1. As part of a group, build models of the following simple molecules. Complete the
table below. The first row has been filled in for you.

Molymod
Displayed
Molecule Molecular formula model built?
formula
X/

Example:
hydrogen
H2 

chlorine Cl2

hydrogen
chloride
HCl

water H2O

ammonia NH3

oxygen O2

carbon dioxide CO2

7
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 4: alkanes
The simplest form of hydrocarbon is an alkane. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons,
which means that they contain only single bonds between two carbon atoms. Each
carbon atom makes four bonds by joining to other carbon atoms or hydrogen atoms.
Hydrogen atoms form one bond each.

1. Build models of the following alkanes. Complete the table below by drawing their
displayed formulas. The first displayed formula has been drawn for you.

Molymod
Molecular
Molecule model built? Displayed formula
formula
X/

methane CH4

ethane C2H6

propane C3H8

butane C4H10

8
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

2. Describe how the number of hydrogen atoms changes as the number of carbon
atoms in the chain increases.

3. The general formula for alkanes is:

4. Use the general formula for alkanes to predict the formula of the following
molecules. Build them using the molymod kits to check your predictions.

Molymod
Molecular
Molecule model built? Displayed formula
formula
X/

pentane
five carbon
atoms

hexane
six carbon
atoms

heptane
seven carbon
atoms

octane
eight carbon
atoms

9
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Challenge: trends and patterns in alkanes

5. Use the data provided in the table to answer the following questions.

Name Formula Melting point (oC) Boiling point (oC)

methane CH4 −182 −161

ethane CH3CH3 −183 −88

propane CH3CH2CH3 −188 −42

butane CH3(CH2)2CH3 −138 0

pentane CH3(CH2)3CH3 −130 36

hexane CH3(CH2)4CH3 −95 69

heptane CH3(CH2)5CH3 −90 99

octane CH3(CH2)6CH3 −57 126

nonane CH3(CH2)7CH3 −53 151

decane CH3(CH2)8CH3 −29 174

(a) Which alkane has the lowest boiling point?

(b) Name three alkanes which are liquids at room temperature.

10
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

(c) What do you notice about the trends in boiling point and melting point?

(d) Explain this trend using the term intermolecular forces.

Project leader of enhanced experimentation

Stuart’s video job profile, available on slide 22 and from rsc.li/3GQvi87, shows his role
as a project leader of enhanced experimentation in oil and gas at Shell. He uses
robots, computer modelling and data to research and develop new ways to use crude
oil and gas.

11
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 5: reactions of alkanes

Fuels react with oxygen to release energy. Complete combustion happens in a plentiful
supply of oxygen. Incomplete combustion occurs when the supply of oxygen is limited.

In general, for complete combustion:

alkane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

For example,

methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)

In general, for incomplete combustion:

alkane + oxygen → carbon monoxide + carbon + water

For example,

methane + oxygen → carbon monoxide + carbon + water

3CH4 (g) + 4O2 (g) → 2CO (g) + C (s) + 6H2O (g)

12
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Demonstration of a Bunsen burner flame

The gas used in Bunsen burners is methane. Watch the demonstration and observe
what happens when the air hole of a Bunsen burner is opened and closed.

1. Delete words on the diagrams below to describe what happened.

(a) Air hole open/closed (b) Air hole open/closed

Complete/incomplete combustion
Complete/incomplete combustion

Demonstration of a controlled explosion of methane

2. Describe your observations.

3. Explain what happened.

13
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

14
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Demonstration of methane bubbles

4. Describe what happened in the demonstration.

5. Why did the methane bubbles float up to the ceiling?

15
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 6: alkenes
Another family of organic compounds are the alkenes. They are also hydrocarbons as
they only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms. However, they are unsaturated
compounds, which means that they contain at least one double bond between two
carbon atoms.

1. (a) Label the double bond in this displayed formula of an alkene.

(b) Using your molymod kit, build each of the alkenes named in the table below and
draw their displayed formulas.

Molymod
Molecular
Molecule model built? Displayed formula
formula
X/

ethene C2H4

propene C3H6

butene C4H8

16
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

2. Why does a molecule called methene not exist?

3. Describe how the number of hydrogen atoms changes as the number of carbon
atoms in the chain increases.

4. The general formula for alkenes is:

School science technician

Read Sandrine’s job profile, available on slide 48 and from rsc.li/3ZpDhAv. She is a
school science technician and uses her knowledge and skills to design, prepare and
test practicals for chemistry lessons and extracurricular activities.

17
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

5. Use the general formula for alkenes to predict the formula of each of the alkenes in
the table below. Build each using the molymod kit to see if you are correct.

Molymod
Molecular
Molecule model built? Displayed formula
formula
X/

pentene
five carbon
atoms

hexene
six carbon
atoms

heptene
seven carbon
atoms

octene
eight carbon
atoms

6. Does it matter where the double bond is in the molecule? Why?

18
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 7: reactions of alkenes

The double bond of the alkene allows us to distinguish them from alkanes because
they undergo an addition reaction with a halogen.

© Shutterstock

Safety and hazards

Wear safety glasses

To do:
1. You have two test tubes which contain bromine water, Br2 (aq).

(a) Remove the bung of the first test tube. Quickly add one drop of an alkane
(hexane) and replace the bung immediately. Take care not to spill the test tube
as bromine water and hexane are hazardous.

(b) Agitate the test tube by waggling it gently between your fingers.

(c) Note your observations in the table below.

(d) Repeat steps (a) to (c) with an alkene (hexene) using the second tube of
bromine water.

Appearance of bromine water Appearance of bromine water

Alkane or
(Br2 (aq)) before adding the (Br2 (aq)) after adding the
alkene
alkane/alkene alkane/alkene

hexane

hexene

19
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

To answer:
Look at the reaction of bromine water and ethene.

2. Use this reaction to explain your observations.

20
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Activity 8: functional groups

1. Build the following organic molecules using your molymod kit and try to identify the
functional group (what makes it different from an alkane?).

Example Molymod
Functional group compound name model built? Displayed formula
and formula X/

butene
alkene
C4H8

ethanol
alcohol
CH3CH2OH

ethanoic acid
carboxylic acid
CH3COOH

propanal
aldehyde
CH3CH2CHO

propanone
ketone
CH3COCH3

2. Circle the functional group in each displayed formula you have drawn.

21
Bonding workshop: student workbook
Available from rsc.li/3ASiknU

Homework activity
Fill in the gaps

1. Combustion takes place when a fuel burns in oxygen.

When there is a plentiful supply of oxygen, ________________________ combustion

takes place.

The general equation for this reaction is:

fuel + oxygen → ________________________ + water

When the oxygen supply is limited, ________________________ combustion takes

place.

The general equation for this reaction is:

fuel + oxygen → carbon monoxide + ________________________ + water

2. Can you give the name and molecular formula for each of the molecules below?

Name: _______________ Name: _______________ Name: _______________

Formula: _____________ Formula: _____________ Formula: _____________

22