Chapter 10 Introduction to Organic

Chemistry: Alkanes
10.2
Alkanes

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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 Structural Formulas

Alkanes are written with structural formulas that are

expanded to show each bond.
condensed to show each carbon atom and its attached
hydrogen atoms.

Expanded Condensed
H

H C H CH4 , methane

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Expanded and Condensed
Structures

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Structural Formulas

Condensed formulas are written for expanded

structural formula by showing each carbon and the
attached hydrogen atoms.
Expanded Condensed

H H H H

HC C C C H CH3CH2CH2CH3

H H H H

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Names of Alkanes

The names of alkanes

are determined by the IUPAC (International Union of
Pure and Applied Chemistry) system.
end in ane.
with 1-4 carbons in a chain use prefixes as follows.

Name # Carbons Structural Formula

Methane 1 CH4
Ethane 2 CH3CH3
Propane 3 CH3CH2CH3
Butane 4 CH3CH2CH2CH3
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Names of Alkanes

Alkanes with 5-10 carbon atoms in a chain use Greek

prefixes.
Name # Carbons Structural Formula
Pentane 5 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3

Hexane 6 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

Heptane 7 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

Octane 8 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

Nonane 9 CH3 CH2 CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

Decane 10 CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

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Learning Check

A. Write the condensed formula for:

H H H H H

H C C C C C H

H H H H H
B. What is its molecular formula?
C. What is its name?

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Solution

A. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3

B. C5H12

C. pentane

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Writing Structural Formulas

Carbon atoms in a chain

maintain tetrahedral shape.

are connected in a zig-zag pattern.
are drawn as 2-dimensional.
Ccan be written in several conformations.

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Some Structures for Butane

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Hexane has Six Carbon Atoms

Hexane
is an alkane with six carbon atoms in a continuous
chain.
has a zig-zag look because each carbon atom is at
the center of a tetrahedron.
is represented by a ball-and-stick model as shown
below.

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Learning Check

Write the condensed structural formula for

A. ethane.

B. heptane.

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Solution

Write the condensed structural formula for

A. ethane CH3CH3

B. heptane CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

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Cycloalkanes

Cycloalkanes

are cyclic alkanes.

have two hydrogen atoms fewer than the open chain.

are named by using the prefix cyclo- before the

name of the alkane chain with the same number of
carbon atoms.

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Cycloalkanes

The structural formulas of cycloalkanes are usually

represented by geometric figures,

Cyclopropane CH2
CH2 CH2
Cyclobutane
CH2 CH2

CH2 CH2

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More Cycloalkanes

Cyclopentane CH2
CH2 CH2
CH2 CH2
Cyclohexane
CH2
CH2 CH2
CH2 CH2
CH2

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Learning Check

Name the following.

A. CH3CH2CH2CH3

B.

C. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3

D.

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Solution

Name the following:

A. CH3CH2CH2CH3 butane

B. cyclopropane

C. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 octane

D.
cyclohexane

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