Hydrocarbons: Difference between revisions
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An '''alkane''' is an organic molecule composed of only carbon and hydrogen, arranged in a straight chain with only single carbon-carbon bonds. Their empirical formula, derived from the number of carbon atoms, is C<sub>n</sub> | An '''alkane''' is an organic molecule composed of only carbon and hydrogen, arranged in a straight chain with only single carbon-carbon bonds. Their empirical formula, derived from the number of carbon atoms, n, is C<sub>n</sub>H<sub>2n+2</sub>. | ||
Names for the first four alkanes are historic, while the names for those with six or more carbons are derived from the Greek prefix for the number of carbons atoms in the molecule. | Names for the first four alkanes are historic, while the names for those with six or more carbons are derived from the Greek prefix for the number of carbons atoms in the molecule. | ||
Revision as of 13:11, 14 March 2009
An alkane is an organic molecule composed of only carbon and hydrogen, arranged in a straight chain with only single carbon-carbon bonds. Their empirical formula, derived from the number of carbon atoms, n, is CnH2n+2.
Names for the first four alkanes are historic, while the names for those with six or more carbons are derived from the Greek prefix for the number of carbons atoms in the molecule.
| IUPAC name | Carbons | Column 3 Header |
|---|---|---|
| Methane | 1 | CH4 |
| Ethane | 2 | CH3CH3 |
| Propane | 3 | CH3CH2CH3 |
| Butane | 4 | CH3(CH2)2CH3 |
| Pentane | 5 | CH3(CH2)3CH3 |
| Hexane | 6 | CH3(CH2)4CH3 |
| Heptane | 7 | CH3(CH2)5CH3 |
| Octane | 8 | CH3(CH2)6CH3 |
| Nonane | 9 | CH3(CH2)7CH3 |
| Decane | 10 | CH3(CH2)8CH3 |
| Undecane | 11 | CH3(CH2)9CH3 |
| Dodecane | 12 | CH3(CH2)10CH3 |