ALKANES

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Definition:

➤ Study of the structure, properties, composition,

reactions, and preparation of carbon-containing

compounds
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Definition:

➤ Include hydrocarbons and compounds with any

number of other elements, including hydrogen

(most compounds contain at least one carbon–

hydrogen bond), nitrogen, oxygen, halogens,

phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur. 

CARBON ATOM
➤ What is the electron configuration of the carbon

atom?

➤ In bonding, carbon shares electrons to complete its

second shell

➤ It has a valency of 4
HYDROCARBONS
➤ Definition:

➤ Any of a class of organic chemical  compounds

composed only of the elements  carbon  (C)

and hydrogen (H)

➤ The carbon atoms join together to form the

framework of the compound, and the hydrogen atoms

attach to them in many different configurations.

ALKANES
➤ Saturated hydrocarbons

➤ Carbon-carbon single bonds (only sigma bonds

are present)

➤ Each carbon is sp3 hybridised

➤ The carbon atoms are bonded on long chains

which may be straight, branched or in rings

(cycloalkanes)
BOND HYBRIDISATION

Why doesn’t CH2 exist but CH4 is stable?

Why does methane have a tetrahedral shape?

HOMOLOGOUS SERIES
Definition:

➤ a series of compounds with the same functional

group and similar chemical properties in which

the members of the series differ by the number of

repeating units they contain.

General formula for alkanes:

➤ CnH2n+2 , where equals any integer

NOMENCLATURE OF ALKANES
➤ Common alkyl groups:
RULES
1. Identify the longest continuing carbon chain; this gives the base (parent)

name

2. Identify the branches (substituent groups) on the carbon chain; name them

according to the number of carbon atoms they contain

3. Number the carbon atoms in you base chain in such a way that the

substituent groups have the lowest numbers possible

4. Give the location of each substituent group by the number assigned to the

carbon atom to which its is attached. Numbers are separated from the words by a

dash

5. When two or more substituents groups are present, they are listed in

alphabetical order. When two or more of the same alkyl substituents are

present, the prexies; di- , tri- , tetra- , etc are used

EXAMPLES
CYCLOALKANES
Definition:

➤ Cycloalkanes only contain carbon-hydrogen bonds

a n d c a r b o n - c a r b o n s i n g l e b o n d s , b u t  i n

cycloalkanes,  the carbon atoms are joined in a

ring. NB: The smallest cycloalkane is cyclopropane.

➤ General formula: CnH2n

NOMENCLATURE OF CYCLOHEXANE
ISOMERISM
Definition:

➤ the existence of molecules that have the same

numbers of the same kinds of  atoms  (the

same formula) but differ in chemical and

physical properties
STRUCTURAL ISOMERISM
Constitutional (Structural) Isomers:

➤ molecules that have the same molecular formula, but

have a different arrangement of the atoms in space.

➤ There are three types:

1. Chain isomerism

2. Positional isomerism

3. Functional group isomerism

STRUCTURAL ISOMERS
1. Chain isomerism- hydrocarbon chains have

variable amounts of branching. Two isomers of

molecular formula of C4H10

STRUCTURAL ISOMERS
2. Positional isomerism- the basic carbon

skeleton remains unchanged but the position

of a functional group changes

STRUCTURAL ISOMERS
➤ Functional group isomerism- contains different

functional groups
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKANE
➤ The smaller alkanes C1-C4 are gases at room

temperature and pressure

➤ The alkanes from C5 to C17 are liquids and those

with larger molecules are solids

➤ Alkanes are non polar molecules and they are

insoluble in water (hydrophobic)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKANE
➤ Alkanes do not conduct electricity

➤ They have low densities, melting and boiling

points. These increase as the RMM of the alkanes

increases (the larger the RMM, the stronger the

London forces)
SOURCES OF ALKANES
➤ Alkanes are derived from petroleum and petroleum

by-products. Smaller alkanes (C1-C5) can obtained in

pure form from fractional distillation of petroleum

and natural gas

USES OF ALKANES

NUMBER OF CARBONS USES

Gases (natural gas-

C1-C2
cooking)

C3-C4 Liquified Petroleum (LPG)

C5-C8 Gasoline

C9-C16 Diesel,Kerosene, Jet fuel

Lubricating Oils, Heating

C17 and higher
Oil
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF ALKANES
➤ Hydrogenation of alkenes
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF ALKANES
➤ Reduction of alkyl halides: Hydrolysis of

Grignard reagent

➤ A Grignard reagent has a formula RMgX where X is a

halogen, and R is an alkyl or aryl (based on a

benzene ring) group. We will take R as an alkyl

group. A typical Grignard reagent might be

CH3CH2MgBr.
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF ALKANES
➤ Reduction of alkyl halides: Reduction by metal

and acid
REACTIONS OF ALKANES
➤ Alkanes are generally inert to many chemical

reactions because of the strong C-C and C-H

bonds

➤ They undergo:

➤ Combustion

➤ Free radical substitution (halogenation)

COMBUSTION
➤ Definition: A  combustion reaction  refers to burning,

usually in the presence of oxygen, but sometimes

with other oxidants.

➤ A combustion reaction happens quickly, producing heat,

and usually light and fire. Combustion describes how the

reaction happens, not the reactants and products.

➤ Example:  The combustion of hydrogen gas produces

water vapour
COMBUSTION
FREE RADICAL SUBSTITUTION (HALOGENATION)
➤ Alkanes react with halogens to form halogenoalkanes

(alkyl halides) via a free radical mechanism

STEP 1: INITIATION

➤ The generation of the free radical. Light or heat is

needed to cause the homolytic fission of the halogen

➤ Since one electron is transferred, half headed arrows are

used
STEP 2: PROPAGATION
➤ Radicals are very reactive

➤ They can collide with other molecules to produce

more radicals
STEP 3: PROPAGATION
➤ There are three termination reactions where the

radicals combine with each other

RATES OF REACTION: HALOGENS AND ALKANES

Halogen Rate of Reaction

Fluorine Violent

Chlorine Fast

Bromine Slower than Chlorine

Iodine Very slow