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Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of alkanes?
What is the general formula for alkanes?
What happens to the boiling point and melting point of alkanes as the number of carbon atoms increases?
What type of reaction can alkanes undergo with halogens?
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What is the prefix for an alkane with 5 carbon atoms?
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What is the simplest alkane?
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What is the main reason why alkanes exhibit structural isomerism?
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What is indicated by the suffix '-ane' in the IUPAC name of an alkane?
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What type of reaction involves the rearrangement of atoms to form a different isomer of an alkane?
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Why are alkanes insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents?
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What is a common use of alkanes in industry?
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What is a potential health risk associated with prolonged occupational exposure to alkanes?
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What is the result of the combustion reaction of an alkane in air?
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What is a characteristic of alkanes that makes them highly flammable?
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Study Notes
General Characteristics
- Alkanes are a type of saturated hydrocarbon, meaning they have only single bonds between carbon atoms.
- They are also known as paraffins or saturated hydrocarbons.
- General formula: CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms.
Physical Properties
- Alkanes are non-polar, meaning they do not dissolve in water.
- They are generally colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
- Boiling point and melting point increase as the number of carbon atoms increases.
- They are insoluble in water, but soluble in non-polar solvents like hexane.
Chemical Properties
- Alkanes are relatively inert and do not react with most reagents.
- They can undergo combustion reactions with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
- They can also undergo substitution reactions with halogens.
Nomenclature
- Alkanes are named using the IUPAC system, which follows these rules:
- Parent chain: longest continuous chain of carbon atoms.
- Prefix: number of carbon atoms in the parent chain (e.g. methane, ethane, propane).
- Suffix: -ane, indicating that it is an alkane.
- Substituents: named as prefixes, with their location indicated by a number.
Examples
- Methane (CH4): the simplest alkane, primary component of natural gas.
- Ethane (C2H6): used as a fuel and in the production of plastics.
- Propane (C3H8): used as a fuel for grills and vehicles.
- Butane (C4H10): used as a fuel and in lighters.
- Pentane (C5H12): used as a solvent and in the production of plastics.
General Characteristics
- Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with single bonds between carbon atoms, also known as paraffins or saturated hydrocarbons.
- Their general formula is CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms.
Physical Properties
- Alkanes are non-polar, which means they don't dissolve in water.
- They are generally colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
- Boiling point and melting point increase with the number of carbon atoms.
- They are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents like hexane.
Chemical Properties
- Alkanes are relatively inert and don't react with most reagents.
- They can undergo combustion reactions with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
- They can also undergo substitution reactions with halogens.
Nomenclature
- Alkanes are named using the IUPAC system, which involves:
- Identifying the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms as the parent chain.
- Adding a prefix that indicates the number of carbon atoms in the parent chain (e.g. meth-, eth-, prop-).
- Adding the suffix -ane to indicate that it's an alkane.
- Naming substituents as prefixes, with their location indicated by a number.
Examples
- Methane (CH4) is the simplest alkane and a primary component of natural gas.
- Ethane (C2H6) is used as a fuel and in the production of plastics.
- Propane (C3H8) is used as a fuel for grills and vehicles.
- Butane (C4H10) is used as a fuel and in lighters.
- Pentane (C5H12) is used as a solvent and in the production of plastics.
Alkanes
Structural Isomerism
- Same molecular formula, different structures due to carbon atoms forming chains and branches.
- Isomers have different physical and chemical properties.
Nomenclature
- Named using the IUPAC system.
- General formula: CnH2n+2.
- Prefix indicates number of carbon atoms (e.g. methane, ethane, propane).
- Suffix "-ane" indicates alkane.
- Branches indicated by numbers and prefixes (e.g. methyl, ethyl).
Chemical Reactions
- Combustion reactions: burning in air to produce CO2 and H2O.
- Substitution reactions: replacement of a hydrogen atom with a halogen (e.g. chlorine, bromine).
- Cracking reactions: breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones.
- Isomerization reactions: rearrangement of atoms to form a different isomer.
Physical Properties
- Non-polar and non-conductive.
- Insoluble in water, but soluble in non-polar solvents.
- Less dense than water.
- Boiling points and melting points increase with molecular weight.
- Highly flammable and explosive.
Occupational Exposure
- Commonly used in fuels (e.g. gasoline, diesel), solvents (e.g. paint thinner, cleaning agents), and lubricants (e.g. motor oil).
- Exposure can occur through inhalation, skin contact, or eye contact.
- Prolonged exposure can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, eye irritation, and increased risk of cancer.
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Description
This quiz covers the general characteristics and physical properties of alkanes, including their formula, polarity, and behavior. Learn about these saturated hydrocarbons and their unique traits.
