Activity # ______: Hydrocarbons… Hydrocarbons everywhere!

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms only. Hydrocarbons such
as methane, ethane and butane are components of natural gas. Hydrocarbons are grouped into families namely,
alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. The compounds in each group have certain structures that make their properties
different from the other.

Objectives:
 Recognize common kinds of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes and their uses;
 Identify the types of bonds formed in alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes; and
 Relate the structure of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes to their properties.

Procedure:
A. Use the data in Tables 1 to 3 to answer the questions in this activity.

Table 1. Alkanes

Table 2. Alkenes

Table 3. Alkynes
Guide Questions:
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. What are the types of bonds present in the following: alkanes, alkenes and alkynes?
a. Alkanes – single bond, Alkenes – double bond, Alkynes – triple bond
b. Alkenes – single bond, Alkynes – double bond, Alkanes – triple bond
c. Alkynes – single bond, Alkanes – double bond, Alkenes – triple bond
2. What do you think will be the boiling point of the next alkane, alkene and alkyne?
a. Higher
b. Lower
c. Does not change
3. Why do you think some hydrocarbons are gases and others are liquids?
a. Because they have different boiling points.
b. Because of the structure or the size of the molecules of the compounds.
c. Because hydrocarbons differ in their chemical bonding.
4. Why do you think there are many hydrocarbon compounds?
a. Because of the atomic structure of the carbon makes it possible to form many types of bonds with
other elements and with other carbon atoms.
b. Because the carbon atoms are attracted to different types of metals and non-metals that they tend
to bond with them to make the carbon atoms stable.
c. Because carbon atoms give off electrons making them unstable when not bonded with the other
elements.
5. Which of the following hydrocarbons is used as a component of gasoline?
a. Ethyne
b. Methane
c. Pentene