Introduction

Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons are
the simplest type of carbon-based compounds and it is possible for double or triple bonds to
form between carbon atoms and even for structures, such as rings to form. They vary greatly in
size, which influences properties such as melting and boiling points. At room temperature,
hydrocarbons may be gases, liquids, or solids. They are generally nonpolar and do not dissolve
in water. Hydrocarbons are placed in two basic classes—saturated and unsaturated
hydrocarbons—based on the number of bonds between their carbon atoms. Saturated
hydrocarbons have only single bonds between carbon atoms while unsaturated hydrocarbons
have at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms (CK-12 Foundation, 2020).
Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are all organic hydrocarbons. Alkanes are saturated
hydrocarbon that contains single carbon to hydrogen bonds. Alkenes and alkynes are
unsaturated hydrocarbons which has atleast one carbon to carbon double bond and triple bond.
(Gauthier, 2020). The alkanes can exist as gases, liquids, or solids at room temperature. The
unbranched alkanes methane, ethane, propane, and butane are gases while pentane through
hexadecane are liquids.  alkanes are almost completely insoluble in water. For alkanes to
dissolve in water, the van der Waals forces of attraction between alkane molecules and water
molecules would have to be greater than the dipole‐dipole forces that exist between water
molecules. The physical properties of alkenes are very similar to those of
alkanes while alkynes are generally nonpolar molecules with little solubility
in polar solvents, such as water. Solubility in nonpolar solvents, such as
ether and acetone, is extensive. Like the alkanes and alkenes, alkynes of
four or fewer carbon atoms tend to be gases (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,
2020).

The aspect of differentiating the aforementioned hydrocarbons could

be improved by advances in technology as it synonymously has steadily
improved our ability to develop more advanced and effective products
regarding hydrocarbons like to extract oil and gas and to convert them to
efficient fuels, lubricants, and other useful consumer and pharmaceutical
products. (Dasmagupta & Aminzadeh, 2013). Advances in technology will
also help to improve the general field of study regarding pharmaceutical
advancements by more accurate and precise information dissemination and
discoveries with alkanes, alkenes and alkynes and using these to develop
learning, research studies and manufacturing related products.

This study seeks to answer the experimental question of what

reactions are involved in each test for alkane, alkene and alkyne as well as
the results for each procedure. The tests performed were observations for the physical
properties of alkane and alkene as well as its chemical reactions with bromine, dilute potassium
permanganate, ignition and Baeyer's test for unsaturation. In the test for alkane and alkene, is
the Baeyer's test for unsaturation is used as for determining the presence of carbon-carbon
double bonded compounds, called alkenes or carbon-carbon trible bonded compounds, called
alkyne bonds (Jason 2010). Another test used with both alkane and alkene is the ignition test
which helps identify the compound by observing the nature of how the sample burns. Aromatic
burns with a smoky or sooty flame while aliphatic burns with non smoky/sooty flame. If it burns
with bluish flame, the compound may contain oxygen (Vernon, 2013). Dilute potassium
permanganate is used since it is an oxidizing agent that reacts with unsaturated aliphatic
hydrocarbons, but does not react with alkanes or aromatic hydrocarbons. The dilute KMnO4
solution has a deep purple color, if there is no reaction you should see no color change. This
reaction is sometimes referred to as the Baeyer test. Because potassium permanganate, which
is purple, is reduced to manganese dioxide, which is a brown precipitate, any water soluble
compound that produces this color. The bromine test which is used for the tests for alkane,
alkene and alkyne was used to determine if the colorless organic compound contains any
double C=C bonds (the alkene functional group).Bromine does not react with an alkane
because the alkane contains only single C-C bonds which cannot add the brominechange when
added to cold potassium permanganate must possess double or triple bonds. (Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt 2020). Vitamin E was used in the test for alkane while Vitamin D was used in the test
for alkene. Vitamin E is fat-soluble and a powerful antioxidant that helps repair damaged cells
(Weatherspoon, D. 2016) and Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes the absorption of
calcium, regulates bone growth and plays a role in immune function. The two forms of vitamin D
differ depending on their food sources. Vitamin D3 which is used in this experiment is only found
in animal-sourced foods, whereas D2 mainly comes from plant sources and fortified foods
(Arnarson, A. 2018). In addition, a theoretical research was also conducted for the test for
alkyne using acetylene as the control. Acetylene is simplest member of unsaturated
hydrocarbons called alkynes or acetylenes. It is a compressed gas that is used as a fuel and is
stored in a liquid state (CFC StarTec LLC 2012).

The experiment will greatly contibute on the general field of study in such way that it
helps to improve further researches or developments in products or in disseminated
informations that helps to improve learning and scientific researches both in medice or
pharmacy as well as in the industry. Moreover, if more experiments are conducted with
precision, as alkanes are mostly used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation and have
a higher number of carbon atoms are used for surfacing roads (Roberths, 2018), it is much
advantageous for further developments regarding the aforementioned significances.
Furthermore, as alkenes are used for manufacturing of plastic or plastic products, there is a
possibililty for further developments that is more environmental friendly to be developed as
further experiments or reaserches are conducted.

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (2020). Alkenes: Physical Properties. Retrieved

from: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/chemistry/organic-chemistry-
i/structure-and-properties-of-alkenes/alkenes-physical-properties

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (2020). Alkynes: Physical Properties. Retrieved

from: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/chemistry/organic-chemistry-
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Dasmagupta, F. & Aminzadeh, S. (2013). Geophysics for Petroleum

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sciences/petroleum-hydrocarbon
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identify-the-compound-by/
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alkenes/alkenes-oxidation-and-cleavage-reactions
Roberths, R. (2018). What are alkenes and alkynes used for?. Retrieved from:
https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-alkenes-and-alkynes-used-for
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%3D2kjjKCWEjuc%253D%26tabid%3D2199%26mid%3D3424%26language%3Den-
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