Methane, CH₄, is the simplest alkane - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry Combined Science - Question 19 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 19
Methane, CH₄, is the simplest alkane.
The diagrams below are three ways to show the structure of methane.
A
B
C
Write about the advantages and disadvantages of ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Methane, CH₄, is the simplest alkane - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry Combined Science - Question 19 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Advantages of Diagram A
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Answer
Diagram A clearly shows the number and types of atoms in the methane molecule. It presents a clear representation of how hydrogen atoms are arranged around the central carbon atom, which helps in visualizing the molecular structure.
Step 2
Advantages of Diagram B
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Answer
Diagram B effectively illustrates the 3D arrangement of atoms in methane. It allows for a better understanding of the spatial orientation of the hydrogen atoms in relation to the carbon atom.
Step 3
Disadvantages of Diagram A
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Diagram A is only a 2D representation, which may not effectively convey the molecular geometry of methane. It lacks an indication of the bond types between the atoms.
Step 4
Disadvantages of Diagram B
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Answer
Diagram B does not show the number or types of atoms explicitly. This can lead to confusion if someone is unfamiliar with the molecular composition of methane.
