11.4.2

Properties of Alkanes

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Properties of Alkanes

Alkanes have single covalent bonds, are saturated hydrocarbons, and they mainly react by combustion or substitution with chlorine.

Illustrative background for What are alkanes?Illustrative background for What are alkanes? ?? "content

What are alkanes?

  • Alkanes are hydrocarbons containing only single covalent bonds.
  • Alkanes are considered saturated hydrocarbons because each carbon atom forms four single bonds.
    • The simplest alkane is methane.
    • Alkanes follow the general formula CnH2n+2.
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Bonding in alkanes

  • Alkanes have single covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms.
  • Each carbon atom in alkanes forms four single bonds with other atoms.
  • Single covalent bonds make the alkane structure stable.
  • All bonds in alkanes allow free rotation around the carbon-carbon bonds.
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Reactivity of alkanes

  • Alkanes are generally unreactive due to their strong single covalent bonds.
  • Alkanes burn easily in oxygen; this is called combustion.
    • During complete combustion, alkanes produce carbon dioxide and water.
  • Alkanes react with chlorine in sunlight through substitution reactions.
Illustrative background for Combustion of alkanesIllustrative background for Combustion of alkanes ?? "content

Combustion of alkanes

  • Combustion is an important reaction of alkanes for energy.
  • Alkanes release energy when they burn in oxygen.
    • Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide, which is dangerous.
Illustrative background for Substitution reactions with chlorineIllustrative background for Substitution reactions with chlorine ?? "content

Substitution reactions with chlorine

  • Alkanes react with chlorine under UV light by substitution.
  • In substitution, hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine atoms.
  • Chlorination changes the properties of the original alkane molecule.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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