General Description

Alkanes are hydrocarbons in which the carbon atoms are held together by single bonds.  Their general
formula is CnH2n+2 for molecules which do not contain ring structures.

 Alkanes naturally occur in crude oil and are a major component of many fuels and solvents derived from
petroleum.

Physical Properties

Physical Properties of Alkanes

Home → Physical Properties of Alkanes
1. PHYSICAL STATE
Alkanes contain only C-C and C-H sigma bonds which are almost non-polar due to very
small difference of electronegativity between carbon and hydrogen atoms. Therefore,
alkanes possess weak van der Waals’ forces as the intermolecular forces. Due to the weak
interparticle forces, the first four members (C1 to C,J are gases; the next thirteen members,
(C5 to C17) are liquids while the higher members are waxy solids.
 
2. BOILING POINTS
Alkanes generally have low boiling points. The boiling points of n-alkanes increase
regularly with the increase in the number of carbon atoms. This can be explained on the
basis of interparticle forces. With the increase in the number of carbon atoms, the
molecular mass and also the molecular size increases. This results in the increase in the
magnitude of van der Waals’ forces (London dispersion forces). Consequently, boiling point
also increases. It is evident that there is an increase of 20-30 degrees for each carbon
atom added to the chain. However, the first few members are exceptions where the
increase in boiling point is relatively more.
Among the isomeric alkanes, the branched chain isomers have relatively low boiling points
as compared to their corresponding straight chain isomers. Greater the branching of the
chain is, lower is the boiling point. This is due to the fact that branching of the chain
makes the molecule more compact and brings it closer to a sphere. This decreases the
surface area and hence, the magnitude of interparticle London dispersion force~ and leads
to the decrease in boiling point. The boiling points of isomeric pentanes are given ahead:
 
Table 40.1. Physical Properties of the first 20 n-Alkanes
3. VOLATILITY
Due to their low boiling points, lower alkanes are highly volatile. Volatility refers to the
ability of a liquid to change into vapour state. Among alkanes volatility decreases with
increase in chain length. Among isomeric alkanes more the branching, greater is the
volatility.
 
4. MELTING POINTS
The melting points of alkanes do not show a very smooth gradation with the increase in
molecular mass. For example, let us look at the melting points of propane to n-octane.
Hydro-            C3H8                C4H10               C5HI2               C6H14               C7H16          C8H18
carbon
Melting              84                     135                  143                 178                    182
216
Point (K)
It is evident that the increase in melting point is relatively more in moving from an alkane
having odd number of carbon atoms to the higher alkane while it is relatively less in
moving from an alkane with even number of carbon atoms to the higher alkane. This is
because the intermolecular forces in a crystal depend not only upon ·he size of the
molecule but also upon how well the molecules fit into the crystal lattice. The molecule
which fit into crystal lattice more easily due to their symmetrical structures usually have
high lattice energy and therefore, high melting points.
For example, let us compare the melting points of isomeric pentanes
Melting point: 256.4 K
Among these isomers neo-pentane has the highest melting point because its molecules are
almost spherical and hence pack more closely.
 
5. SOLUBILITY
In keeping with the popular rule “like dissolves like” hydrocarbons are insoluble in polar
solvent like water because they are predominantly non-polar in nature. However, they are
soluble in non-polar solvents like ether, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
The liquid hydrocarbons themselves are good solvents for other non-polar organic
molecules.
 
6. DENSITY
The densities of alkanes increase with increasing molecular masses but become constant at
about 0.8 g cm-3. This means that all alkanes are lighter than water.
Chemical Property

Chemical Formula and names

CnH2n+2 

List of Alkanes

Methane (CH4)

Ethane (C2H6)

Propane (C3H8)

Butane (C4H10)

Pentane (C5H12)

Hexane (C6H14)

Heptane (C7H16)

Octane (C8H18)

Nonane (C9H20)

Decane (C10H22)

Structure

Chemical formula

Formation
 Preparation of Alkane
1. Hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons

2. Reduction of alkyl halide.

3. Wurtz reaction

4. Decarboxylation of carboxylic acid

5. Kolbe’s electrolytic method

6. Hydrolysis of aluminium and beryllium carbide

1. Hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons

 Metals like platinum, palladium adsorbs dihydrogen gas on their surface and
activate the hydrogen bond
 Platinum and Palladium catalyse the reaction at room temperature
 Nickel requires high temperature and pressure

2. Reduction of alkyl halide

          R - X + H2 → R - X + HX

          Order of reactivity of different alkyl halides is

          R – I > R – Br > R – Cl > R – I

           

 The purpose of using of red phosphorus is to remove iodine

 1O and 2O alkyl halides are readily reduced by LiAlH4 but 3 o halides give
alkene 
BUT

 NaBH4 reduces 2O and 3O halides 

3. Wurtz reaction

          

 If two different alkyl halides are used mixture of three different alkanes are

obtained. Eg
 The separation of the mixture into individual members is not easy
 Wurtz reaction is used for the preparation of higher alkanes containing even
number of carbon atoms

Mechanism
 Wurtz reaction is supposed to follow free radical mechanism

 Ionic mechanism is suggested for Wurtz reaction

Reactivity order of alkyl halides towards Wurtz reaction is 1 o 2o > 3o and RI > RBr
> RCl

4. Decarboxylation of carboxylic acid.

          
Alkane obtained in this method have one carbon less than the parent compounds

5. Kolbe’s electrolytic method

Mechanism

          

           
          

 If number of carbon atoms in potassium carboxylate = n

 Number of carbon atoms in alkane formed = 2(n-1)

Therefore, methane cannot be prepared by this method

6. Hydrolysis of aluminium and beryllium carbide

          aluminium carbide
Al4C3 + 12 H2O → 4Al(OH)3 + 3CH4
          Beryllium carbide
Be2C + 4H2O → 2Be(OH)2 + CH4

Major sources of alkanes are:

1.  Petroleum
2. Natural gas that occurs along with petroleum in the earth’s sedimentary traps
3. Destructive distillation of wood and coal
4. Anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, in the presence of bacteria, liberates
methane.

Uses

 Fuel for homes and automobiles

 Electricity generation
  Propellant for aerosol sprays
 Formulation of glues for shoes, leather products, roofing and paints.
 Used to extract cooking oils from seeds.
  These substances contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change
 deplete the ozone
 reduce photosynthetic ability of plants
 and increase occurrences of cancer and respiratory disorders in humans

 Heptane is used in paints and coatings.

 Also as a minor component of gasoline.

 OCTANE (C8H18)

 It is a component of gasoline (petrol).

 Octane is vital in preventing engine damage.

 Used in automotive fuel and jet fuel.

 It is commonly used in fuels such as gasoline.


 What Everybody Ought To Know About

Key Benefits Of
You Need To Know About
hrough combustion, alkanes contribute a huge amount of carbon oxide. It is harmful to
our health because alkanes are converted to CFCs to be used as propellants in aerosols
and as refrigerant gases. It contributes 15- 20% to the greenhouse effect.
* Less reactive than acids
- This is because the backbone carbon atoms in alkanes have attained their octet of
electrons through forming four covalent bonds. To make them react, the input of
additional energy is needed; either through heat or radiation. Therefore, a lot of energy
is needed to break their bonds. Alkanes as generally very unreactive and their most
important reaction is combustion with oxygen.
* Hazards of Alkanes
- Alkanes produces asphxiation, potential carcinogen, flammable, potential explosion
hazard that can cause harm. 

contribute a huge amount of carbon oxide

Alkane Reactions

1. Combustion
The combustion of carbon compounds, especially hydrocarbons, has been the most important
source of heat energy for human civilizations throughout recorded history.

CH3-CH2-CH3   +   5 O2   ——>  3 CO2   +   4 H2O   +   heat

2. Halogenation
Halogenation is the replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms in an organic compound by a
halogen

Unlike the complex transformations of combustion, the halogenation of an alkane appears to be

a simple substitution reaction in which a C-H bond is broken and a new C-X bond is formed.

Ex.

CH4   +   Cl2   +   energy   ——>  CH3Cl   +   HCl

1. Hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons

 In this reaction a molecule of hydrogen is added to the alkene molecule at the site of unsaturation. This
is achieved under mild conditions when a catalyst is used to bring about this change.

From Carboxylic Acids and their salts - by decarboxylation reactions i.e. removal of CO2

By  Electrolysis. (The Kolbe Process)

 
The electrolysis of aqueous solutions of carboxylic acid salts similarly gives a
decarboxylation of the anion and two alkyl residues combine together to give an
alkane.

   By reduction of haloalkanes

Haloalkanes can easily be made to give the alkanes if these are exposed to an environment where
hydrogen atoms are generated.

2. Wurtz reaction

In this procedure, the haloalkane loses its halogen and two radicals then come together to give an
alkane with a longer carbon chain.

3. Decarboxylation of carboxylic acid

5. Kolbe’s electrolytic method

6. Hydrolysis of aluminium and beryllium carbide