Module 3: Alkanes: Nomenclature, Preparation and Reaction

Introduction
There are a lot of things in our surroundings that plays an important role in our life,
we sometimes don’t notice the significance of it. Each of the things that we see and use every
day are having an explanation why they are existed. Like for example, the LPG also known as
gasul in every home. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, each carbon holds the maximum
number of hydrogen atoms. Alkanes are also contains only carbon-carbon single bonds. Most of
the chemical reaction requires a functional group “handle” to proceed. Since alkanes don’t really
have functional groups, they aren’t very useful in any biologically important processes.

Objectives:
At the end of this activity, the students will be:
1. Discuss the distinguishing features of alkanes.
2. Name alkane nomenclature.
3. Identify the reactions of alkane.

MOTIVATION
Are you aware in the use of organic compounds in everyday life of people? In example
of this is the food we eat that keeping us alive and moving, Also the medicine are one of the
example that is also an important thing in our life because it keep us safe from any diseases.

ABSTRACTION
Alkanes are also saturated hydrocarbons. Alkanes are the simplest and least reactive
hydrocarbon species containing only carbon and hydrogens. The distinguishing feature of alkane,
making it distinct from other compounds that also exclusively contain carbon and hydrogen, is
its lack of unsaturation. This is to say, it contains no double and triple bonds, which are highly
reactive in organic chemistry. Moreover, the alkanes and cycloalkanes are also members of a
larger class of compounds referred to as aliphatic. Simply put, aliphatic compounds are
compounds that do not incorporate any aromatic rings in their molecular structure. We can say a
nomenclature when all carbons form a continuous, unbranched (linear) chain so that it will said
to be as normal or having an “n” in the last of its name. And when it comes to the results and
reactions of alkanes is that alkanes have very little reactivity and only undergo two major types
of reactions, including: (1) combustion reaction, (2) halogenation reaction.
ENRICHMENT
Moreover, hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds, but they have interesting
physiological effects. These effects depends on the size of the hydrocarbons molecules and
where on or in the body they are applied. Some of those hydrocarbons plays an important role in
medical field, some carbon atoms are gases or light liquids that acts as an anesthetic.

Evaluation
Think of these questions:
1. Define concisely what is alkanes?
2. In alkanes, can there be a two-carbon branch off the second carbon atom of a four-carbon
chain? Explain.
3. Briefly identify the important distinctions between a straight-chain alkane and a branched-
chain alkane.

Answer:
1. Alkanes are organic compounds that consist entirely of single-bonded carbon and hydrogen
atoms and lack any other functional groups.
2. No, the branch would make the longest continuous chain of five carbon atoms.
3. Straight-chain alkanes and branched-chain alkanes have different properties as well as
different structure.

References
https://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/1organic/reaction.html