CAIE A Level Chemistry 9701 · Hydrocarbons
Concentrated sulfuric acid is a polar reagent that protonates many organic compounds. Alkanes such as hexane do not react with concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature. Suggest why alkanes are unreactive towards polar reagents such as concentrated sulfuric acid.
4 marks, so the mark scheme is looking for about 4 separate creditworthy points. Making the same point twice in different words earns it once.
Suggest means: Apply what you know to an unfamiliar situation. There may be more than one acceptable answer. Reason from the principle you have learned to the new context, and say which principle you are using.
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