Alkanes

Alkanes

>> simplest family of organic chemistry

>> they are hydro carbons : they contain hydrogen and oxygen only
>> they have a carbon - carbon bond ( single bonds )
>> general formula is CnH2n+2

Molecular Structural
Displayed formula formula
Alkane formula

Methane CH4
CH4

Ethane C2H6
CH3CH3

Propane C3H8
CH3CH2CH3

Butane C4 H10 CH3CH2CH2CH3

Pentane C5H12 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3

 Structural isomers

Structural isomers : molecules with the same molecular formula but

different displayed and structural formula
 P h y s i c a l p ro p e r t ie s

>> F i rst 4 a l k a n e s a re g a s e s at ro o m te mp, t h e re st a re l i q u id , s o l id

st a r t f ro m c a r b o n 18

» As s i ze i n c re a s e b o i l i n g p o i nt a l s o i n c re a s e

» As s i ze i n c re a s e i nte r m o l e c u l a r fo rc e s o f at t r a ct i o n a l s o i n c re a s e
→ u n re a ct i ve b e c a u s e i t h a s c a r b o n - C a r b o n b o n d

C h e m i c a l p ro p e r t ie s

>>I n e r t
→ t h ey a l l b e h a ve t h e s a m e w ay

C H E M I CA L R E ACT I ON S
C o m b u st i o n

1. C o mp l ete c o m b u st i o n
W h e n e n o u g h ox yg e n i s p re s e nt fo r t h e a l k a n e to b e b u r n e d f u l l y to
g i ve c a r b o n d i ox ide a n d w ate r

C H4 + 2O2 = CO2 + H2O

2. I n c o mp l ete C o m b u st i o n

W h e n t h e a m o u nt o f ox yg e n i s l i m i te d s o t h e i n c o mp l ete c o m b u st i o n
o f h yd ro c a r b o n s h app e n a n d c a r b o n m o n ox ide a n d w ate r a re g i ve n o u t

2C2H6 + 5O2 = 4 CO +6H2O

 R e a ct i o n s w i t h h a l o g e n s

>> a l k a n e s re a ct w i t h h a l o g e n s i n t h e p re s e n c e o f u l t r a v i o l et l i g ht
>> a n h yd ro g e n ato m i n t h e a l k a n e i s d i sp l a c e d b y a h a l o g e n ato m
>> t h i s i s k n o w n a s s u b st i t u t i o n re a ct i o n b e c a u s e a n ato m i s b e i n g
s u b st i t u te d b y a d i f fe re nt o n e

C H 4 . + C l 2 = C H 3 C l + H C l

Mono - substitution
When only one hydrogen atom in the alkanes is replaced by
halogen atom