SPM Form 5 Terminology and Concepts: Carbon Compounds

1. Comparing (Similarities and Differences) Properties of Alkanes and Alkenes

Physical
Properties
Physical state

Alkanes

Alkenes

Physical state changes from Same with alkanes.

gas to liquid when going
down the series.
Electrical
Do not conduct electricity Same with alkanes.
conductivity.
at any state.
Boiling points
Low boiling points and
Same with alkanes.
and melting
melting points (number of
points
carbon atoms per molecule
increases).
Density
Low densities (number of Same with alkanes.
carbon atom per molecule
increases).
Solubility in
Insoluble in water (soluble Same with alkanes.
water
in organic solvent)
Chemical
Alkanes
Alkenes
Properties
(Substitution reaction)
(Addition reaction)
Reactivity
Unreactive
Reactive
Combustion
Burn in air and produce
Burn in air and produce
yellow sooty flame.
yellow and sootier flame
compare to alkanes.
Reaction with
No reaction.
Decolourise brown bromine
bromine solution
solution.
Reaction with
No reaction.
Decolourise purple
acidified
acidified potassium
potassium
manganate(VII) solution.
manganate(VII)
solution
2. Isomerism
Isomerism phenomenon that two or more molecules are found to have the same molecular
formula but different structural formulae.
Isomerism in alkanes
Molecular formula
CH4
C2H6
C3H8
C4H10
C5H12

Number of isomers
- (no isomer)
- (no isomer)
- (no isomer)
2
3

Structure name
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane2-methylpropane
Pentane2methylbutane2,2dimethylpropane

Isomerism in alkenes
Molecular formula
C2H4
C3H6
C4H8

Number of isomers
- (no isomer)
- (no isomer)
3

C5H10

Structure name
Ethene
Propene
But-1-eneBut-2-ene2methylpropene
Pent-1-enePent-2-ene2methylbut-1-ene
3-methylbut-1-ene
2-methylbut-2-ene

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