ALKANES

Most of the hydrocarbons found in crude oil are in this group.

They are called saturated hydrocarbons.

Alkanes have the general formula Cn H2n+2

So if there are 3 carbon atoms ( n = 3) then the formula of this particular alkane would be:

Its name is
C3 H(2 × 3) + 2 C3 H(6 + 2) C 3 H8 propane

Here are some examples of larger alkanes & an idea of the typical size of molecules
found in three of the common fractions.

C8 H18 : octane in the petrol fraction (boiling range 40 – 190oC)

larger
molecules
C12 H26 : in the kerosene fraction (boiling range 190 – 260oC) =
double 12 and then add 2 higher bp
C17 H36 : in the diesel fraction (boiling range 260 – 330oC)
 Structures of the smaller
alkanes, CnH2n+2
H
Methane Formula : CH4
H C H
Methane is the main constituent
of natural gas.
H

H H
Ethane C2H6
Each carbon atom has 4 bonds and each H C C H
hydrogen has one.
The carbons bond in a chain, then the extra bonds go to hydrogen. H H

H H H
Propane C3H8
All the bonds are fully taken up so there is no chance of combining more H C C C H
hydrogen atoms.
Because of this we call them saturated hydrocarbons.
H H H
Butane is C4H10 Work out the structure of its molecule.
 Alkane summary.
Shorthand formulae showing the structures are used here.

Atoms are
joined by Methane : CH4 As the alkanes
single covalent get larger, they
bonds Ethane : CH3CH3 have an extra
CH2 group
Propane : CH3CH2CH3
Butane : CH3CH2CH2CH3

The general
Molecules which only have formula for
single bonds between carbon alkanes is
atoms are said to be saturated CnH2n+2
 We depend on oil
Modern society depends heavily on oil and all the products we can
obtain from crude oil.

bitumen petrol

Bottled gas

plastics The list is almost endless.

 What will happen when oil supplies
begin to run out?
How will we run our cars?

How will we transport our goods?

What about our foreign holidays?

Political problems associated with our dependency on crude oil.

• Crude oil is essential to the economies of all developed and developing countries.
• Some countries do not have enough crude oil of their own and have to depend on others.
Environmental problems associated with our dependency on crude oil.
•Even if they don’t run out, we’ll have to burn less fuels or the increased carbon . dioxide in the
atmosphere will lead to a dangerous level of global warming.