ALKANES
Describe the properties of alkanes (exemplified by methane) as being…
● Generally unreactive, except in terms of burning
- They have the General Formula: CnH2n+2 with all C–C bonds. Example: C2H6 – Ethane.
- They can exist as LINEAR, BRANCHED or forming rings: CYCLOALKANES.
- They are non-polar .
- They have only weak intermolecular forces. (Van der Waals only), that makes alkanes insoluble in water but soluble in non polar liquids..
- They have low melting and boiling points; The values increase with the size (number of carbons in the molecule).
Describe the bonding in alkanes
● Contain no C=C double bonds, therefore the carbons are saturated, because they
each form 4 single bonds i.e. they form as many bonds as possible
● they have C-C and C-H single covalent bonds
● CnH2n+2 is the general formula e.g. ethane is C2H6
● Alkane molecules can be represented in the following forms: