Crude oil may contain hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons. Some examples include:
- Butane [tex]\left( \text{C}_4 \text{H}_{10} \right)[/tex]
- Dodecane [tex]\left( \text{C}_{12} \text{H}_{26} \right)[/tex]
- Octane [tex]\left( \text{C}_8 \text{H}_{18} \right)[/tex]
- Benzene [tex]\left( \text{C}_6 \text{H}_6 \right)[/tex]

Many common fuels, such as gasoline and kerosene, are combinations of these substances or others. When these fuels burn, they combine with oxygen [tex]\left( \text{O}_2 \right)[/tex] to produce carbon dioxide [tex]\left( \text{CO}_2 \right)[/tex] and water [tex]\left( \text{H}_2 \text{O} \right)[/tex].

Identify each of the highlighted materials as an element, a compound, or a mixture, and explain your reasoning.



Answer :

Certainly! Let's identify each of the highlighted materials as either an element, a compound, or a mixture, and provide explanations for each:

1. Butane [tex]\( \left( C_4H_{10} \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Butane is made up of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms in a fixed ratio (4:10), which means it is a chemical compound. It has a specific molecular structure and formula, [tex]\( C_4H_{10} \)[/tex].

2. Dodecane [tex]\( \left( C_{12}H_{26} \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Similar to butane, dodecane is also composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, but in a different fixed ratio (12:26). This specific combination of atoms in a defined molecular structure, [tex]\( C_{12}H_{26} \)[/tex], makes it a compound.

3. Octane [tex]\( \left( C_8H_{18} \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Octane is a hydrocarbon with a molecular formula of [tex]\( C_8H_{18} \)[/tex], consisting of 8 carbon atoms and 18 hydrogen atoms. This fixed ratio and specific structure classify it as a compound.

4. Benzene [tex]\( \left( C_6H_6 \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Benzene consists of 6 carbon atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms arranged in a ring structure, giving it a distinct formula [tex]\( C_6H_6 \)[/tex]. This fixed composition and structure make it a chemical compound.

5. Gasoline:
- Identification: Mixture
- Reasoning: Gasoline is not a single substance but a blend of various hydrocarbons, including butane, octane, and many others. Since it consists of different compounds mixed together without a fixed ratio, it is classified as a mixture.

6. Kerosene:
- Identification: Mixture
- Reasoning: Kerosene is also a mixture of multiple hydrocarbons and other substances. It is used as a fuel and does not have a fixed composition but rather a range of different molecules mixed together, making it a mixture.

7. Oxygen [tex]\( \left( O_2 \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Element
- Reasoning: Molecular oxygen [tex]\( O_2 \)[/tex] consists of two oxygen atoms bonded together. Since it is composed of only one type of atom, it is an element. In its molecular form, it is simply two atoms of elemental oxygen bonded together.

8. Carbon Dioxide [tex]\( \left( CO_2 \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Carbon dioxide is composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms in a specific ratio, giving it the chemical formula [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex]. This fixed composition makes it a compound.

9. Water [tex]\( \left( H_2O \right) \)[/tex]:
- Identification: Compound
- Reasoning: Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio, with a specific molecular formula [tex]\( H_2O \)[/tex]. The fixed structure and composition classify it as a compound.