SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY

3700 BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA

SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT

Alkanes
Prepared by: Brent Jericko P. Narciso, RPh.
What are Alkanes?

→ The simplest type of organic compounds.

→ Alkanes are members of a larger class of
organic compounds called hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbon
→ is a compound composed of only carbon
and hydrogen.
The 4 classes of Hydrocarbons.
 Alkanes
▪ Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. *
▪ Saturated in this context means that each carbon in the
hydrocarbon has the maximum number of hydrogens
bonded to it.
▪ A hydrocarbon that contains one or more carbon–carbon
double bonds, triple bonds, or benzene rings is
classified as an Unsaturated hydrocarbon.
 Alkanes

▪ We often refer to alkanes as aliphatic hydrocarbons because the

physical properties of the higher members of this class resemble those
of the long carbon-chain molecules. *
 Alkanes
• All alkanes fit the general molecular
formula CnH2n + 2 , where n is the
number of carbon atoms. *
• Each member of this series differs
from the next higher and the next
lower member by a (-CH2) group
(methylene group).
• A series of compounds in which the
members are built up in a regular,
repetitive way like this is called a
homologous series. *
How Do We Write Structural Formulas of Alkanes?
The Structures of Alkanes
• Methane, CH4, and ethane, C2H6, are the first two members of the alkane
family. *
• The shape of methane is tetrahedral, and all H-C-H bond angles are 109.5°.
• Each carbon atom in ethane is also tetrahedral, and the bond angles in it are
all approximately 109.5° as well.
The Structures of Alkanes
Practice Problem 1:
1. Give an IUPAC name for the following compounds:

d. e.
Practice Problem 2:
What is the molecular formula of an alkane with:
1. 12 carbon atoms
2. 8 carbon atoms
3. 3 carbon atoms
4. 5 carbon atoms
5. 7 carbon atoms
THANK YOU.
• Aiko Narciso

• bjnarciso@smu.edu.ph

• bjnarciso@smu.edu.ph

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 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
3700 BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT

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 Sources:
▪ Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry
▪ Basic Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences
▪ Foundations of Organic Chemistry by John McMurry