Write a balanced symbol equation to show methane burning in

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oxygen

CH4+ 2 O2  CO2 + 2 H2O

methane + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water
 Chemistry for a sustainable world – C7
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The alkanes
Learning Objectives:

• To be able to write a balanced equation for the

combustion of a hydrocarbon.

• To know what alkanes and alcohols are.

Key words: hydrocarbon, combustion, alkane, alcohol

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What are all these?
Paraffin wax
Butane gas

Candle wax
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Activity – More about alkanes
1. Complete activity 1+2 on Ac7.1. For each model write down
the molecular formula.
2. What is the relationship between number of carbon atoms
and number of hydrogen atoms in each alkane?
3. Try to write down a general formula to show the number of
carbon and hydrogen atoms in an alkane.
4. Use the table in activity 3 on Ac7.1 to describe in words how
the boiling point of an alkane varies with chain length.
5. Watch the demonstrations and make observations as shown
in activity 4 on Ac7.1.
6. Now explain why alkanes are so unreactive.
Alkanes – Summary
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CnH2n+2
Alkanes
(n = 1, 2, 3 etc)

Alkanes are SATURATED molecules because they contain

ONLY single bonds (every carbon is attached to 4 different
atoms).

Alkanes are generally very unreactive.

Alkanes do not mix with water.

Alkanes burn with a smokey flame.

Alkanes are used as fuels and can be solid (candle wax),

liquid (hexane) or gas (propane gas, butane gas)
 Changing the reactivity by changing the atoms….
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R is an alkane chain

Look at the models

of methanol and
ethanol to see how
they are different
NOT industrial alcohol
as used in the lab!!
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Alcohol family summary

OH is a functional group.
Functional groups give
compounds their different
chemical and physical
properties.

In this case, the OH group

makes alcohols more reactive
than alkanes. E.g. They burn
OH here is not OH- ion with a blue flame.
because it is
COVALENTLY bonded
not IONIC here!!