Sources of Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Sources of Alkanes:

1. Petroleum: The primary source of saturated hydrocarbons (including alkanes

and cycloalkanes) in the geosphere is petroleum. Crude oil, which is a complex
mixture of various compounds, contains alkanes of different chain lengths. These
alkanes are separated by fractional distillation at oil refineries. The different
fractions of crude oil consist mostly of alkanes with similar chain lengths. For
example:
o Propane and butane are liquefied at fairly low pressures and find use in
propane gas burners and as propellants in aerosol sprays.
o Alkanes from pentane to octane are highly volatile liquids and serve as
good solvents for nonpolar substances. They are commonly used as fuels
in internal combustion engines
2. Natural Gas: Natural gas primarily contains methane (70-90%) along with
smaller amounts of ethane, propane, and butane. It is used for heating,
cooking, and power utilities (such as gas turbines). Additionally, natural gas can
be liquefied (LNG) for transportation purposes. For instance, the Sultanate of
Oman exports most of its natural gas as LNG
3. Traces in the Atmosphere: While methane (CH₄) occurs in trace amounts
(about 0.00017% or 1.7 ppm) in the Earth’s atmosphere, its content in the
oceans is negligible due to its low solubility in water1.
4. Solid Alkanes: Higher alkanes (which are solid) occur as residues from oil
distillation, often referred to as “tar.” One notable natural deposit of solid alkanes
exists in the Pitch Lake in Trinidad and Tobago
Physical Properties of Alkanes:

 State: Alkanes are generally colorless, odorless, and exist in various states at
room temperature:
o Methane (CH₄) is a gas.
o Ethane (C₂H₆) and propane (C₃H₈) are gases as well.
o Butane (C₄H₁₀) is a gas at room temperature but can be liquefied under
moderate pressure.
o Alkanes with 5 to 17 carbon atoms are liquids.
o Alkanes with 18 or more carbon atoms are solids.
 Boiling Points: The boiling points of alkanes increase with the number of carbon
atoms. Longer-chain alkanes have higher boiling points due to stronger London
dispersion forces.
 Density: Alkanes are less dense than water.
 Solubility: Alkanes are insoluble in water but dissolve well in nonpolar solvents.
 Reactivity: Alkanes are relatively inert and undergo reactions primarily under
extreme conditions (e.g., combustion).