Alkanes

1. General Formula : C
n
H
2n+2
(number of atoms, n = 1,2,3......)
2. They are saturated hydrocarbons;
each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms by
single covalent bonds.
3. The members of the family, ending with name ane.

Number of
carbon
atoms
(n)
Name
Molecular formula
C
n
H
2n+2

Molar
mass
(g mol
-1
)
Physical
state at
room
temperatu
re
1 Methane C
1
H
2x1+2
= CH
4
16 Gas
2 Ethane C
2
H
2x2+2
= C
2
H
6
30 Gas
3 Propane C
3
H
2x3+2
= C
3
H
8
44 Gas
4 Butane C
4
H
2x4+2
= C
4
H
10
58 Gas
5 Pentane C
5
H
2x5+2
= C
5
H
12
72 Liquid
6 Hexane C
6
H
2x6+2
= C
6
H
14
86 Liquid
7 Heptane C
7
H
2x7+2
= C
7
H
16
100 Liquid
8 Octane C
8
H
2x8+2
= C
8
H
18
114 Liquid
9 Nonane C
9
H
2x9+2
= C
9
H
20
128 Liquid
10 Decane C
10
H
2x10+2
= C
10
H
22
142 Liquid

Consecutive members different in molar mass is 14 g mol
-1


4. Structural formulae of alkanes

Name No. of
isomers
Structural formulae and Name
Methane


CH
4

0

Ethane,
C
2
H
6
0

Propane,
C
3
H
8

0

Butane,
C
4
H
10

2

H H H H

H C C C C H

H H H H
n-butane
H H H

H C C C H

H H H
H

H C H

H
H H

H C C H

H H


Pentane,
C
5
H
12
3

2 - methyl propane
H H H

H C C C H

H HCH H

H
H H H H H

H C C C C C H

H H H H H
n-pentane
H H H H

H C C C C H

H HCH H H

H
2-methyl butane
1 2 3 4


Hexane,
C
6
H
14

5


H

H H C H H

H C C C H

H HCH H

H
2,2-dimetyl propane
H H H H H H

H C C C C C C H

H H H H H H
n-hexane
H H H H H

H C C C C C H

H HCH H H H

H
2 - methyl pentane































H

H H C H H H

H C C C C H

H HCH H H

H
2,2 - dimethyl butane
2,3 - dimethyl butane
H H H H H

H C C C C C H

H H HCH H H

H
3 - methyl pentane

H

H H H CH H

H C C C C H

H HCH H H

H

Physical Properties
Physical properties of alkanes
i. cannot conduct electrity
ii. less dense than water
iii. dissolve in organic solvents, insoluble in water
iv. low melting and boiling points

Conclusion:
- molecule held together by weak intermolecular forces
- properties of covalent compound
- gradually steady increase as the number of carbon in alkane
increases


























6. Steps to name branched alkanes;
i. determined and named the long chains
ii. determined and named the branch chain
CH
3
: methyl
C
2
H
5
OR CH
2
CH
3
: ethyl
C
3
H
7
OR CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
: prophyl
iii. give number to the carbon atoms in long chain, which started
from the nearest branched
iv. The number for carbon atom which branched emerged from,
must put before/infront the alkyl
v. Named the branched first, followed by the named of long chains
The word di, tri is used if the branched chains is more than one



Chemical Properties
Pg 38

Reactivity of alkanes
1. Not reactive/unreactive because saturated hydrocarbon
2. Did not decolourized purple solution of acidified potassium
manganate(VII)
3. Did not decolourized reddish brown solution of bromin water
4. Neutral.

Combustion of alkanes
1. In the presence of sufficient oxygen, alkanes burns to form
carbon dioxide and water. complete combustion
Chemical equation:

i. CH
4
+ O
2
CO
2
+ H
2
O
CH
4
+ 2O
2
CO
2
+ 2H
2
O

ii. C
2
H
6
+ 7/2 O
2
2CO
2
+ 3H
2
O




iii. C
4
H
10
+ 13/2 O
2
4CO
2
+ 5H
2
O


iv. C
6
H
14
+ 19/2 O
2
6CO
2
+ 7H
2
O







Answers
i. CH
4
+ 2O
2
CO
2
+ 2H
2
O

ii. C
2
H
6
+ 7 O
2
2CO
2
+ 3H
2
O
2



2 x C
2
H
6
+ 2 x 7 O
2
2x 2CO
2
+ 2x 3H
2
O
2

2C
2
H
6
+ 7 O
2
4CO
2
+ 6H
2
O



iii. C
4
H
10
+ 13/2 O
2
4CO
2
+ 5H
2
O


iv. C
6
H
14
+ 19/2 O
2
6CO
2
+ 7H
2
O






2. If there is insufficient oxygen, carbon monoxide or carbon
may be formed incomplete combustion

i. CH
4
+ 3/2 O
2
CO + 2H
2
O
2CH
4
+ 3 O
2
2CO + 4H
2
O

ii. CH
4
+ O
2
C + 2H
2
O








Halogenation
1. The reaction is between alkane dan chlorine.
2. Takes place under sunlight/ultra violet light.
3. Carbon-hydrogen bonds broken and new carbon-halogen bonds
are formed. One or more hydrogen atoms in alkanes molecule may be
subtituted by halogen.
4. Halogenation is substitution reaction.

Chlorination of methane
First stage;







Second stage;






H H
|
H C H +Cl-Cl H C Cl + HCl
|
H H monochloromethane
H Cl
|
H C Cl + Cl
2
H C Cl + HCl
|
H H dichloromethane

Third stage ;







Fourth stage;











Overall equation/chemical equation
CH
4
+ 4Cl
2
CCl
4
+ 4HCl



Cl Cl
|
H C Cl + Cl
2
H C Cl + HCl
|
H Cl trichloromethane
Cl Cl
|
H C Cl + Cl
2
Cl C Cl + HCl
|
Cl Cl tetrachloromethane