Subject

CHEMISTRY
Topic
HYDROCARBONS: ALKANES
AND ALKENES
Class
SS2
LESSON OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson the students should be able to:
1. Define hydrocarbon
2. Give the general molecular formula of alkane and alkene homologous
series
3. Describe the laboratory preparation of methane
4. Describe the laboratory preparation of ethene
5. Give the uses of ethene
 HYDROCARBONS

• Hydrocarbons are organic compounds containing carbon and

hydrogen only.
• They have a general formula CxHy where x and y are positive whole
numbers.
• Sources of hydrocarbons are crude oil, coal and natural gas.
• Hydrocarbons are grouped as aliphatic compounds and aromatic
compounds.
 ALKANES
 Alkanes form homologous series of saturated hydrocarbons.
 They have the general molecular formula of CnH2n+2 (where n = 1, 2, 3…)
 The first member of the alkane family is methane.
 All the carbon atoms are tetrahedrally bonded in alkanes.
 The carbon atoms are sp3 hybridized.
 They are very stable chemically compared to alkenes and alkynes.
FIRST 10 MEMBERS OF THE ALKANE FAMILY
Members Molecular Formula
Methane CH4
Ethane C2H6
Propane C3H8
Butane C4H10
Pentane C5H12
Hexane C6H14
Heptane C7H16
Octane C8H18
Nonane C9H20
Decane C10H22
METHANE
Methane is the first member of the
alkane homologous series. It has the
molecular formula CH4. It is a gas at
room temperature.
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF METHANE
 CH3COONa(s) + NaOH(s) + CaO(s) CH4(g) + Na2CO3

A mixture of sodium ethanoate (sodium acetate) and soda lime in the ratio of 1:3
is heated in a hard glass test tube. Methane gas starts to evolve. The gas is
passed through the delivery tube and is collected on gas jar by downward
displacement of water.
GENERAL METHODS OF PREPARATION OF ALKANES

Any member of the alkane family can be prepared by heating the appropriate
sodium salt of monocarboxylic acid (sodium alkanoate salt) with sodalime.

RCOONa + NaOH + CaO RH + Na2CO3 (R = CnH2n+1)

E.g. CH3CH2COONa + NaOH + CaO CH3CH3 + Na2CO3

Sodium propanoate Ethane
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF CH4
Methane is obtained at an industrial scale from natural gas. Natural gas which
contain methane as its major component is formed beneath the earth’s crust. It
found around crude oil but can also be found by itself.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METHANE
i. It is a colourless and odourless gas at room temperature
ii. It has the melting point of -184oC and the boiling point of -164oC
iii. It is insoluble in water, ethanol and ether
iv. It is neutral to litmus
v. It is less dense than air
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METHANE

1. Combustion
Methane completely in the presence of sufficient oxygen to form carbon (IV) oxide,
steam and heat according to the formula

CnH2n+2 + (3n/2+1)O2 nCO2 + (n+1)H2O

 2. Substitution reaction
Chlorine or bromine reacts with methane in the presence ultra-violet radiation,
in a chain reaction manner to produce various products of which, in the case of
chlorination of methane, the end product is tetrachloromethane, CCl4. E.g. the
chlorination of methane.
The reaction proceeds in three steps: initiation, propagation and termination.
CHLORINATION OF METHANE
Takes place in three stages: initiation, propagation and termination.
Initiation breaks the bond between the chlorine molecule (Cl2) to produce chlorine
radicals.

Propagations stage:

At the termination stage, the various radicals combine to form products such two Chlorine
radicals forming chlorine molecule, chlorine radical and methyl radical forming ClCH3, etc.
USES OF METHANE
1. As fuel in internal combustion engines
2. It is used as fuel for domestic purposes e.g. cooking
3. It is use as fuel in industries
4. It is an important petrochemical, use in industries to produce pesticides,
synthetic fibres, etc.
TEST FOR ALKANES
Alkanes do not react with bromine water or potassium tetraoxomanganate (VII),
KMnO4(aq). This is because alkanes are saturated. Alkenes and alkynes with react
with these solutions.
ALKENES
 Alkenes are a homologous series of unsaturated hydrocarbons with general
molecular formula CnH2n (where n = 1, 2, 3…)
 Functional group in alkene is carbon to carbon double bond (- C = C -)
 Hybridization is sp2
 Bond angle between carbon and hydrogen is 121.30
ALKENES
 The first member of the alkene homologous series is ethene, C2H4
 Alkenes burn with more luminous and smoky flame than the corresponding
alkanes as they contain greater percentage of carbon
 Alkenes are also more reactive than alkanes because of the availability of
electrons in the double bonds
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF ETHENE
Ethene is prepared in the laboratory by dehydration of ethanol. Ethanol is heated
with an excess of concentrated H2SO4(aq) at a temperature of 170°C. The gases
produced are passed through sodium hydroxide solution to remove the CO2(g) and
SO2(g) produced from side reactions.
Set-up for the laboratory preparation of ethene
Ethene is also prepared in the laboratory by the dehydration of ethanol using
aluminium oxide powder. Ethanol vapour is passed over heated aluminium oxide
powder; the ethanol is essentially cracked to give ethene and water vapour.
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF ETHENE
Ethene is produced by cracking of hydrocarbons in the industries. For example,
C15H32 2C2H4 + C3H6 + C8H18
Ethene
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ETHENE
1. It is a colourless gas with a faint sweetish smell
2. It is slightly less dense than air
3. It is sparingly soluble in water
4. It is neutral to litmus paper
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ETHENE
a). Combustion: C2H4 burns readily in oxygen with a smoky luminous flame,
because of its high carbon content, to form CO2 and H2O.

C2H4(g) + 3O2(g) CO2(g) + H2O(g)

b). Addition Reaction: All unsaturated compounds undergo addition reaction. It
involves the direct addition of an attacking reagent across the double or triple
bond of an unsaturated compound to yield a saturated product or one in which
the degree of saturation is increased.
Ethene undergoes addition reaction with hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides
and many other compounds. e.g.
1. Hydrogenation
2. Halogenation
3. With hydrogen halides:
CH2CH2(g) + HI(g) CH3CH2I(l)

• Similar reactions occur with HCl and HBr but at slower rate.
MARKONIKOV’S RULE

When hydrogen halides react with unsymmetric alkene, the addition

reaction is according to Markonikov’s rule. The rule states that the hydrogen
atom of the added hydrogen halide goes to the carbon atom which has more
hydrogen atoms, while the other carbon atom receives the halogen or non-
hydrogen atom e.g.
4. With chlorine and bromine water: Chlorine water contains oxochlorate (I)
acid, HOCl and bromine water contains oxobromate (I) acid, HOBr, when
ethene combines with bromine water or chlorine water, 2-chloroethanol or 2-
bromoethanol are produced respectively.
CH2=CH2 + HOCl CH2OH – CH2Cl
2-chloroethanol
5. With tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid: Conc. H2SO4 readily absorbs ethene at room
temperature to form ethylhydrogen tetraoxosulphate (VI), which under goes
hydrolysis when boiled with water to produce ethanol and H2SO4.

6. With tetraoxomanganate (VII): When bubbled into a dilute solution of

KMnO4, ethene is oxidized rapidly to ethane-1,2-diol (also known as ethylene
glycol).
CH2=CH2 + H2O + [O] CH2OH – CH2OH
ethane-1,2-diol
7. With oxygen: When ethene is mixed with air or oxygen and passed over
a silver catalyst at about 2500C, epoxyethane is formed. Epoxyethane (or
ethylene oxide) is used in making ethane-1, 2-diol and some liquid detergent.
8. Polymerization Reaction: It is the combination of two or more simple
molecules (monomers) to form a complex molecule (polymer). The
polymerization of ethene takes place at 2000C and 100atm. Polyethene, the
product of polymerization of ethene is used as packaging materials.
USES OF ETHENE
1. In the manufacturing of many important organic compounds such as ethane,
ethanol, etc.
2. It is the raw material for many plastics e.g. polyethene, polyvinylchloride (PVC)
etc.
3. It is used for the production of synthetic rubber such as styrene-butadiene
rubber
4. It is used for hastening the ripening of fruits
5. 1, 2-dibromoethene is used as a petrol additive.
6. Ethene is used in the manufacture of glycerol and detergent.
EVALUATION
1. Name the class of organic compound to which alkanes, alkenes and alkynes
belong?
2. Give the general molecular formula of the alkanes and the alkenes
3. Describe the laboratory preparation of ethene.
3. Mention three physical properties of ethene.
4. Name three reaction types undergone by ethene.
5. How do you test for methane?
6. Describe the laboratory preparation of alkanes.
5. State four uses of ethene.
Thank You
For Watching!