All courses › Chemistry 2 › Alkanes

Alkanes

Alkanes are hydrocarbons with only single bonds between the carbon atoms. Each carbon forms four bonds in all. In a straight chain without rings the general formula makes the number of hydrogens twice the number of carbons plus two. The name follows the carbon count: methane one, ethane two, propane three, butane four. Alkanes burn, but they lack the double bond that alkenes have, so they do not readily take up other substances in an addition.

Symbols

Example

Butane has 4 carbon atoms.

Hydrogen: $2 \cdot 4 + 2 = 10$, so the formula is C4H10.

← An unknown concentration · Alkenes →

Part of Chemistry 2: Organic chemistry.