Topic – SC22 Hydrocarbons Textbook Pages 172 - 173

SC22a – Alkanes and Alkenes

Learning Objectives Starter
• Define hydrocarbon,
homologous series, Discuss what you would
functional group adn define as a
isomer. hydrocarbon and can
• Identify saturated and you think of any
unsaturated examples?
hydrocarbons.
• Compare and contrast S&C – Draw the dot and
butane, but-1-ene and cross diagram, skeletal and
but-2-ene. display formula for butane.
Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are molecules that contain only hydrogen and carbon.

Which of these are hydrocarbons?

Homologous Series
A family of molecules that are similar in structure and only vary in
one feature.
Pair up these molecules into different homologous series.
Alkanes
• Alkanes are hydrocarbon molecules in which all the carbon
atoms are joined by single bonds.
• The names all end in ‘-ane’.
• The first part of the name tells us how many carbon atoms there
are in the molecule.
• The general formula for an alkane is CnH2n+2.

Name Formula Structural

Formula
Methane

C2H6
Alkenes
• Alkenes are hydrocarbon molecules in which all the carbon
atoms are joined by single and double bonds.
• The names all end in ‘-ene’.
• The first part of the name tells us how many carbon atoms there
are in the molecule.
• The general formula for an alkene is CnH2n.

Name Formula Structural

Formula
Ethene
C3H6
Saturated vs. Unsaturated

Alkanes are referred to as being

saturated molecules as there are only
single bonds between pairs of carbon
atoms.

Alkenes have at least one double bond

between the pairs of carbon atoms,
making them unsaturated molecules.
Alkane or Alkene?
• Explain how you
know which of
these is an alkane
and which is an
alkene?

• Can you spot the

deliberate mistake?

• Can you explain

how you know this
must be a mistake?
Isomers
• When there are four or more carbon atoms in an alkene, the
double bond can be in different places in the carbon chain.
• The two molecules below are isomers of butene.
• Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but
different arrangement of atoms

In but-1-ene the 1 shows that the double In but-2-ene the 2 shows that the double
bond is between the first pair of carbon bond is between the second pair of
atoms. carbon atoms.

Draw all of the isomers of heptene and name them.

Exam Style Question
 Learning Objectives
• Define hydrocarbon, homologous
series, functional group and
isomer.
• Identify saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons.
• Compare and contrast butane, but-
1-ene and but-2-ene.