Alkanes

1. General Formula : CnH2n+2 (number of C 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”.

Molar Physical
Number of
Molecular formula mass state at
carbon -1
Name (g mol ) room
atoms CnH2n+2 C=12, temperatu
(n)
H=1 re
1 Methane C1H2x1+2 = CH4 16 Gas

2 Ethane C2H2x2+2 = C2H6 30 Gas

3 Propane C3H2x3+2 = C3H8 44 Gas

4 Butane C4H2x4+2 = C4H10 58 Gas

5 Pentane C5H2x5+2 = C5H12 72 Liquid

6 Hexane C6H2x6+2 = C6H14 86 Liquid

7 Heptane C7H2x7+2 = C7H16 100 Liquid

8 Octane C8H2x8+2 = C8H18 114 Liquid

9 Nonane C9H2x9+2 = C9H20 128 Liquid

10 Decane C10H2x10+2 = C10H22 142 Liquid

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members different in molar mass is 14 g mol-1

4. Structural formulae of alkanes

Name No. of
Structural formulae and Name
isomers
Methane 0
H
│
CH4 H─C─H
│
H

Ethane, 0
C2H6 H H
│ │
H─C─C─H
│ │
H H
Propane, 0
C3H8 H H H
│ │ │
H─C─C─C─H
│ │ │
H H H

Butane, 2 H H H H
C4H10 │ │ │ │
H─C─C─C─C─H
│ │ │ │
H H H H

n-butane

2
 H H H
│ │ │
H ─ C ─── C ─── C ─ H
│ │ │
H H─C─H H
│
H
2 - methyl propane

Pentane, 3
C5H12 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
1 2 3 4
│ │ │ │
H H─C─H H H
│
H
2-methyl butane

3
 H
│
H H─C─H H
│ │ │
H ─ C ─── C ─── C ─ H
│ │ │
H H─C─H H
│
H

2,2-dimethyl propane

Hexane, 5
C6H14 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 H─C─H H H H
│
H

2 - methyl pentane

4
 H H H H H
│ │ │ │ │
H ─ C ─ C ─── C ─── C ─ C ─ H
│ │ │ │ │
H H H─C─H H H
│
H

3 - methyl pentane

H
│
H H─C─H H H
│ │ │ │
H ─ C ─── C ─── C ─ C ─ H
│ │ │ │
H H─C─H H H
│
H
2,2 - dimethyl butane

H
│
H H H ─C─H H
│ │ │ │
H ─ C ─── C ─── C ─── C ─ H
│ │ │ │
H H─C─H H H
│
H

2,3 - dimethyl butane

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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

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6. Steps to name branched alkanes;
i. determined and named the long chains
ii. determined and named the branch chain
CH3 : methyl
C2H5 OR CH2CH3 : ethyl
C3H7 OR CH2CH2CH3 : 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. CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O

CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
ii. C2H6 + 7/2 O2  2CO2 + 3H2O
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 iii. C4H10 + 13/2 O2  4CO2 + 5H2O

iv. C6H14 + 19/2 O2  6CO2 + 7H2O

Answers
i. CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O

ii. C2H6 + 7 O2  2CO2 + 3H2O

2

2 x C2H6 + 2 x 7 O2  2x 2CO2 + 2x 3H2O

2

2C2H6 + 7 O2  4CO2 + 6H2O

iii. C4H10 + 13/2 O2  4CO2 + 5H2O

iv. C6H14 + 19/2 O2  6CO2 + 7H2O

C3H8

C5H12

C7H16
8
 C8H18

C9H20

C10H22

2. If there is insufficient oxygen, carbon monoxide or carbon

may be formed – incomplete combustion

i. CH4 + 3/2 O2  CO + 2H2O

2CH4 + 3 O2  2CO + 4H2O
ii. CH4 + O2  C + 2H2O

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.

One atom or a group of atoms in a molecule is replaced by another atom or group of

atoms.

Chlorination of methane
First stage;
H H
│ |
H ─ C ─ H +Cl-Cl → H — C — Cl + HCl
│ |
H H monochloromethane

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 Second stage;

H Cl
│ |
H ─ C ─ Cl + Cl2 → H — C — Cl + HCl
│ |
H H dichloromethane

Third stage ;
Cl Cl
│ |
H ─ C ─ Cl + Cl2 → H — C — Cl + HCl
│ |
H Cl trichloromethane

Fourth stage;

Cl Cl
│ |
H ─ C ─ Cl + Cl2 → Cl — C — Cl + HCl
│ |
Cl Cl tetrachloromethane

Overall equation/chemical equation

CH4 + 4Cl2  CCl4 + 4HCl

HW: PG41 EP B no. 1-3

Prepared;
Kamal Ariffin Bin Saaim
SMKDBL Alumina,
Alumina,AlAl
2O 2O
3 3
CC
9H9H (ce)
20 20 (ce) ————
———— CC 2H2H
6 (g)
6 (g)+ +CC
7H7H (g)(g)
14 14
Panas
Panas 10
Nonana
Nonana Etana
Etana Heptena
Heptena