4 - 24 Alkanes
● Simplest family of hydrocarbons
● Many alkanes used as fuels
● Methane (CH4) - major component of natural gas
● Ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) also present in small quantities in natural gas, also
important constituents of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) from crude oil
fractional distillation
● General formula - CnH2n+2
● Saturated hydrocarbons, as all ጊcontain single carbon bonds (cannot be further
broken down and reacted)
●
Homologous series***
● Same functional group
● Similar chemical properties
● Trend (gradation) in physical properties, e.g.: boiling point
● Same general formula
● Each element differs from CH2
1
● Simplest family of hydrocarbons
● Many alkanes used as fuels
● Methane (CH4) - major component of natural gas
● Ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) also present in small quantities in natural gas, also
important constituents of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) from crude oil
fractional distillation
● General formula - CnH2n+2
● Saturated hydrocarbons, as all ጊcontain single carbon bonds (cannot be further
broken down and reacted)
●
Homologous series***
● Same functional group
● Similar chemical properties
● Trend (gradation) in physical properties, e.g.: boiling point
● Same general formula
● Each element differs from CH2
1
