Basic Hydrocarbons – Compact Construction Set

Basic Hydrocarbons – Compact Construction Set

Educational set of 42 elements designed for building compact models of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), such as methane and butane. The elements in the set have diameters of 30 mm (hydrogen) and 38 mm (carbon and oxygen). They are also color-coded: hydrogen – white, carbon – black, oxygen – red. The set contains a total of 9 different elements symbolizing chemical atoms: hydrogen (2), carbon (4), oxygen (3). Together, the teaching aid comprises 42 elements with spherical and half-spherical shapes, housed in a plastic, lidded box.

The kit enables in-class demonstration of the combustion mechanism of carbon, methane, and butane:
Methane: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O
Carbon: C + O₂ → CO₂
Butane: 2C₄H₁₀ + 13O₂ → 8CO₂ + 10 H₂O

Contents of the set:

• Hydrogen atoms H, 16 pcs, diameter 30 mm
• Carbon atoms C, 10 pcs, diameter 38 mm
• Oxygen atoms O, 16 pcs, diameter 38 mm

What is combustion?

Combining carbon with oxygen, which produces carbon dioxide, is called combustion. During combustion, heat is released. Equation (A) can be used to write the general equation for the complete combustion of hydrocarbons (C_xH_y). In equation (A), n denotes the number of oxygen molecules needed to completely burn one molecule of hydrocarbon C_xH_y. This n can be easily calculated from formula (B). The number of molecules depends on the amount of carbon and hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon molecule.

(A) C_χH_γ + nO₂ → χCO₂ + ^γ/₂ H₂

(B) n=χ + ^γ/₄