Alkanes are hydrocarbons* that are fully saturated with hydrogen this means that they contain only single carbon-carbon covalent bonds. They are a homologous series.**

Alkanes are classified according to the number of carbons on the longest straight part of their chain and will always end in -ane.

The following are their prefixes:

Meth - One carbon only
Eth - Two carbons
Prop - Three carbons
But - Four carbons
Pent - Five carbons
Hex - six carbons
Hept - seven carbons
Oct - eight carbons

To remember the first four prefixes use - My Elephant Poops Bricks

To name an Alkane first determine the number of carbons in the structure. Using the prefix for that number of carbons, put it in front of -ane (because it is an alkane the name will always end in -ane). For example, if a structure had five carbons, the prefix used would be Pent- and it would be written in front of -ane, like so: Pentane. This is the final name of the Alkane.

General formula: CnH2n+2

All bonding for alkanes are covalent and are only single covalent bonds. This also means that they are saturated.

Alkanes are primarily used as fuels (e.g. petrol)

When they burn, carbon dioxide and water are formed.

Methane + Oxygen -----> Carbon dioxide + water

CH4 + 2O2 -----> CO2 + 2H2O

*Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen atoms

** A series of compounds that have similar chemical properties and the same general formula

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Naming Alkanes