Alkanes
What are Alkanes?
● Simplest hydrocarbons
● Alkanes are used as fuels and combusted to release energy
● First 4 Alkanes are gases at room temperature, other alkanes til C18H38 are
liquids and the rest are solids
● Boiling points increase in a regular way as the molecules become bigger, so more
energy has to be needed to break the stronger intermolecular forces of attraction
between them
● Isomers: Compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different
structural formula
Homologous Series:
● A homologous series contains compounds that:
● Have the same functional group
● Have similar chemical properties
● Show a gradual trend in physical properties
● Are described by the same general formula (CnH2n+2 for Alkanes and CnH2n for
Alkenes)
● Differ from the next by a CH2 unit
What are Alkanes?
● Simplest hydrocarbons
● Alkanes are used as fuels and combusted to release energy
● First 4 Alkanes are gases at room temperature, other alkanes til C18H38 are
liquids and the rest are solids
● Boiling points increase in a regular way as the molecules become bigger, so more
energy has to be needed to break the stronger intermolecular forces of attraction
between them
● Isomers: Compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different
structural formula
Homologous Series:
● A homologous series contains compounds that:
● Have the same functional group
● Have similar chemical properties
● Show a gradual trend in physical properties
● Are described by the same general formula (CnH2n+2 for Alkanes and CnH2n for
Alkenes)
● Differ from the next by a CH2 unit
