WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Science 9, Quarter 2, Week 6

THE ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS:
ALKANES, ALKENES & ALKYNES
Name: __________________________________Section: ____________________

Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC):

Recognize the general classes and uses of organic compounds. (S9MT-IIh-18)

Learning Objectives:
The learners shall be able to:

1. recognize the common kinds of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes and their uses;
2. identify the types of bonds formed in alkanes, alkenes and alkynes;
3. familiarize common examples of compounds as alkanes, alkenes and alkynes;
4. relate the structures of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes to their properties;
5. investigate how the common organic compound ethyne can ripen fruits
faster than the natural way; and
6. state the effect of improper use of hydrocarbons.

Time Allotment : 5 days

Key Concepts
• Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen atoms
only. Each hydrocarbon molecule consists a carbon backbone with hydrogen
atoms attached to the backbone.
• Depending on the properties, hydrocarbons are divided into two (2) groups;
aliphatic hydrocarbons (open chain compounds) and cyclic hydrocarbons (closed
chain compounds). Aliphatic hydrocarbons are grouped into families namely,
alkanes, alkenes and alkynes.
• The compounds in each group have certain structures that make their properties
different from each other.
• To identify the type of hydrocarbons, it is good to consider the number of bonds
present in the carbon-carbon atoms. The table below compares the three types of
aliphatic hydrocarbons.

Table 1: A Comparison of the Three Types of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

ALKANES ALKENES ALKYNES
Number of carbon- 1 2 3
carbon bonds
General Formula CnH2n + 2 CnH2n CnH2n-2
Methane, ethane, Ethene, Ethyne, butyne,
Examples
propane, butane propene, butene pentyne

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• Alkanes
-These are the simplest hydrocarbon which contains a single bond of
carbon-carbon. They have a general formula of C nH2n + 2 . Alkanes are also known as
saturated hydrocarbons because additional hydrogen atoms can no longer bond in
the compound. The first alkane is methane, CH4, and the second member is ethane,
CH3CH3, which are common alkane compounds. The name of the compounds in this
group all end with -ane.

• Alkenes
-The second class of hydrocarbons are the alkenes, also known as olefins.
They are the unsaturated hydrocarbons with one or more double bonds between
carbon atoms. Open chain alkenes have the general formula C nH2n, where n equals
the number of carbon atoms. Because alkenes are double-bonded, they have two less
hydrogen atoms than alkanes. The name of alkene compounds end in –ene. The
simplest alkenes are ethene, CH2CH2, and propene, CH2CHCH3.

• Alkynes
-The third class of hydrocarbons are the alkynes. Alkynes are also
unsaturated hydrocarbons just like the alkenes due to the presence of at least one
triple bond between carbon atoms. Open chain alkynes have the general formula
CnH2n-2. The most common alkyne compound is ethyne or acetylene.

Activity 1. Uses of Common Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

Aliphatic hydrocarbons have several uses. The chemical properties of these

compounds have been applied in many aspects at home and in the community
particularly in chemical industries. In this activity, you will be able to recognize the
common kinds of aliphatic hydrocarbons and their uses.

What you need:

Paper and pen

What to do:
1. Complete the table below about the uses of aliphatic hydrocarbons
(alkanes, alkenes and alkynes).
2. Use the labels or pictures of the materials as guide to answer the
following questions.
3. Using a check mark, indicate the uses of the compounds. You may have
more than one check mark per sample depending on its use/s.
4. Copy table 2 and answer the questions in a separate sheet of paper.

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Table 2. Aliphatic Hydrocarbons and Their Uses

Uses
Fuel
Samples Cleaner’s Producer/ Starter for
Food
Materials Flammable Organic
packaging
Materials Compounds

Acetylene
C 2 H2

Moregas.net.au

Butane
C4H10

Walmart.com

Octane
CH3 (CH 2)6
CH3.

Cellophane
Polyethylene
(C2H4)n
Freepik.com

Hexane
C6H14

Dlchem.en.mad
e-in-china,cpm

Methane

CH4

https://thumbs.
dreamstime.
com

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Guide Questions
Answer the following questions. Use separate sheets of paper.
1. Which among the given materials are alkanes?
2. Which materials are alkenes?
3. Which materials are alkynes?

Activity 2. Properties of Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes

What you need:

Paper and pen

What to do:
Use the data in Tables 3 to 5 to answer the following questions.

Table 3. Alkanes
Name Phase Condensed Structural Boiling Point
Formula (0C)
Methane Gas CH4 -162
Ethane Gas CH3CH3 -89
Propane Gas CH3CH2CH3 -42
Butane Gas CH3CH2CH2CH3 -0.5
Pentane Liquid CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 36
Hexane Liquid CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 69
Heptane Liquid CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 98
Octane Liquid CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 126

Table 4. Alkenes
Name Phase Condensed Structural Boiling Point
Formula (0C)
Ethene Gas CH2=CH2 -104
Propene Gas CH2=CHCH3 -47
1-Butene Gas CH2=CHCH2CH3 -6
1-Pentene Liquid CH2=CHCH2CH2CH3 -30
1-Hexene Liquid CH2=CHCH2CH2CH2CH3 63

Table 5. Alkynes
Name Phase Condensed Structural Boiling Point
Formula (0C)
Ethyne Gas CH CH -84
Propyne Gas CH CCH3 -47
2-Butyne Gas CH3C CCH3 8.08
Pentyne Liquid CH CCH2CH2CH3 40.2

Alkanes are also saturated hydrocarbons. The distinguishing feature of an

alkane, making it distinct from other compounds that also exclusively contain carbon
and hydrogen, is its lack of unsaturation. Notice that the first four alkanes are gases
at room temperature, and solids do not start to appear until about
C17H36. These forces will be very small for a molecule like methane but will increase

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as the size of the molecules increase. Therefore, the boiling points of the alkanes
increase with the molecular size. Alkanes (both normal and cycloalkanes) are
virtually insoluble in water but dissolve in organic solvents. The liquid alkanes are
good solvents for many other covalent compounds. At room temperature, the lighter
alkanes are gases; the midweight alkanes are liquids; and the heavier alkanes are
solids, or tars.
At room temperature, alkenes exist in all three phases, solid, liquids, and
gases. Melting and boiling points of alkenes are similar to that of alkanes, however,
isomers of cis alkenes have lower melting points than that of trans isomers. The
boiling point of each alkene is very similar to that of the alkane with the same number
of carbon atoms. Ethene, propene and the various butenes are gases at room
temperature. All the rest that you are likely to come across are liquids. Boiling points
of alkenes depends on more molecular mass (chain length). The more intermolecular
mass is added, the higher the boiling point. Intermolecular forces of alkenes gets
stronger with increase in the size of the molecules.

Compared to alkanes and alkenes, alkynes have a slightly higher boiling

point. The reason that longer chain molecules have higher boiling points is that
longer chain molecules become wrapped around and enmeshed in each other much
like the strands of spaghetti. More energy is needed to separate them than short
chain molecules which have only weak forces of attraction for each other.

Guide Questions
Answer the following questions. Use separate sheets of paper.

1. What types of bonds is/are present in the following:

a. alkanes
b. alkenes
c. alkynes

2. Using Tables 3 to 5, what pattern do you observe in terms of the

following? Explain the patterns you observe.
a. Phase
b. number of carbon atoms
c. structure and boiling point of the alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
3. What do you think will be the boiling point of the next alkane, alkene,
and alkyne? Will the boiling point of each hydrocarbon be higher or
lower? Explain your answer.
4. Why do you think some hydrocarbons are gases and others are liquids?
5. Why do you think there are many hydrocarbon compounds?

6. What hydrocarbon compounds are gases and liquids? What are the uses
of gaseous hydrocarbon compounds and liquid hydrocarbon compounds?

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Activity 3. Which Bananas Will Ripen Faster?

Read the following and answer the questions that follow.

A fruit vendor in Libertad was stocked with green bananas but she needed
sweet, ripe ones so she can sell them. She wanted to find out how to make bananas
ripen faster.
The vendor prepared two set-ups. In the first set-up, she used a sheet of
newspaper and wrapped ¼ kilo (250g) of crushed calcium carbide (CaC2) or Kalburo.
When calcium carbide reacts with water such as moisture in the air, a gas will be
produced. She made sure that the wrapped calcium carbide will just be enough to fit
the area of the bottom of one shoe box. She then put the wrapped calcium carbide
at the bottom of the shoe box and covered it with another piece of newspaper. She
placed 3 unripe (nearing maturity) bananas of the same kind inside the first box with
calcium carbide.
In the second set-up, the vendor did not put wrapped calcium carbide in the
other shoe box. She also placed another set of 3 green, unripe bananas of the same
kind in the second box.
After putting all the bananas in box A and box B, she then covered both
boxes for 48 hours.
After 2 days, she noticed that in Box A, some thick-skinned green bananas
softened and turned yellow. In box B, the color of the bananas did not change.

Guide Questions
Answer the following questions. Use separate sheets of paper.

A. Write the observations in the data table below.

Group Observations
A
(with calcium
carbide)
B
(without calcium
carbide)

B. 1.What does the vendor need to find out or investigate in the experiment?
2. What is the independent variable?
3. What is the dependent variable in the experiment?
4. Write your hypothesis or prediction about what might happen in the
experiment.
5. Which set-up has more ripe bananas? Why?
6. What conclusion can you make from the results of your experiment?
7. Look for the properties of ethyne and explain how it can introduce
ripening of fruits.

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Reflection
Answer the following questions. Use separate sheets of paper.

1. Why do you think these kinds of compounds are very important?

2. What possible effects do hydrocarbons may bring to health and

environment if it will be used without proper regulation?

Rubric Scoring

Points Description
3 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent
to the concepts and has no misconception.
2 Practical application is scientifically explained consistent
to the concepts, but with minimal misconception.
1 Practical application is explained consistent to the
concepts, but with misconception.
0 No discussion

References for Learners:

Alvarez, Liza, et al. Science 9 Learner’s Module. Philippines: Department of
Education- Instructional Materials Council Secretariat, 2014.

Abistado, Jonna, et al. Science Links III: Chemistry. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore,
Inc, 2012.

https://azchemistry.com/uses-of-alkanes-alkenes-and-alkynes-in-industry

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Act 2 Answers to Guide Questions
1. Compounds in the alkanes group only have single bonds between carbon
atoms. Alkenes have at least one double bond between carbon atoms in the
compounds. Alkynes have at least one triple bond between carbon atoms in
the compounds.
2. The physical state of the alkanes from methane to butane is gas, and
from pentane to octane is liquid. The reason for this is related to the structure
of the compounds. If the molecule of the compound is small, it interacts less
with each other. Just like methane, it is likely to be a gaseous compound.
When the molecules become bigger in size or structure, they can closely
interact with each other and they will become more likely to be liquid just like
in the case of octane.
Octane molecule has a very long chained structure that makes it too heavy to
be a gaseous compound. The trend in the phase of the compounds is also the
same with the alkenes and the alkynes. The phase of the alkenes and alkynes
is a gas when the molecules is small and becomes liquid as the molecules
become bigger.
The trend in the structures of the compounds in alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes
is the same. The size of the structures of the compounds is increasing because
the compounds become bigger or longer.
3. The trend in the boiling point of the compounds in alkanes, alkenes, and
alkynes is also in an increasing pattern. This is because of their structures.
As the structures of the compounds become bigger, they also interact more
with each other. Bigger molecules that interact with each other more strongly
require higher temperature to evaporate. That is why they have a higher
boiling point.
Activity 1
Table 2. Aliphatic Hydrocarbons and Their Uses
Cleaner’s Food Fuel/Producer/ Starter for
Materials Preservation/packaging Flammable Organic
Materials Compounds
Acetylene / /
Butane /
Octane /
Polyethylene / /
Hexane / / /
Methane /
Answers to Guide Questions
1. Alkanes: Methane, Octane, Hexane, Butane
2. Alkenes: Polyethylene (Cellophane)
3. Alkynes: Acetylene
Answer Key
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Act 3 Answers to Guide Questions
A.
Group Observations
A Bananas turn yellow and softened
(with calcium
carbide)
B Bananas are green.
(without
calcium carbide)
B. 1. Acceptable answers: “The effect of acetylene gas on the rate of ripening of s
bananas” or “The effect of using calcium carbide (kalburo) on the rate of ripening
of bananas
2. Acceptable answers: Acetylene or calcium carbide
3. Number of fruits that ripened
4. Acceptable answers: The bananas in the shoe boxes with calcium carbide will
ripen faster than the bananas in the shoe boxes without calcium carbide or Group
B bananas will ripen slower than Group A bananas.
5. Group A. Calcium carbide (CaC2) is a compound that is commonly known as
Kalburo. It is a substance to speed up ripening of fruits like mangoes and bananas
in just a couple of days.
6. Expected answer: Group A has many ripened bananas than group B.
7. Using calcium carbide (kalburo) makes the ripening of bananas faster than
without using calcium carbide. This is because when calcium carbide (kalburo)
reacts with the moisture in the air, acetylene gas is produced. Acetylene gas is
the compound that makes the ripening of the fruits becomes faster. Acetylene
imitates the action of the natural ripening agent called ethene or ethylene (C 2H4).
4. The reason why there are hydrocarbons that are gases and liquids is because
of the structure or the size of the molecules of the compounds. When the
molecules are small, they tend to interact less among each other. Smaller
molecules are usually gases. And when molecules have bigger structures, they
interact more with each other. Thus, bigger molecules then tend to settle in
liquid state.
5. The reason for so many hydrocarbon compounds is the carbon atom. Carbon
atoms have four valence electrons. This atomic structure of the carbon makes
it possible to form many types of bonds with other elements and with other
carbon atoms. The formation of these bonds results in many different
hydrocarbons.
6. What hydrocarbon compounds are gases and liquids? What are the uses of
gaseous hydrocarbon compounds and liquid hydrocarbon compounds?
Common examples of gaseous hydrocarbon compounds are methane, butane,
propene, and ethyne (acetylene). Methane gas is the most common
hydrocarbon. It is used as fuel for cigarette lighters and LPG. It is also mixed
with other fuel for vehicles. Butane gas is used as fuel, blended with other
hydrocarbons to produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and is also used as
fuel cigarette lighter. The color of the flame when butane is used in cigarette
lighter is blue. Ethyne gas or commonly known as acetylene is used commonly
in flame torch that is used in welding of iron, and it is also used for hastening
the ripening of fruits.