Hydrocarbons and alkanes

• What area of chemistry focuses on compounds that contain carbon?

  Organic chemistry
• Why is carbon considered a useful element for making large compounds?

  Because each carbon atom can form four strong bonds
• What are hydrocarbons defined as?

  Compounds formed from carbon and hydrogen only
• What is the name of the hydrocarbon with the formula C4H10?

  Butane
• Why is butanol not classified as a hydrocarbon?

  Because it contains an oxygen atom
• What is the simplest type of hydrocarbons called?

  Alkanes
• What is the molecular formula for methane?


  C1H4
• What is the molecular formula for ethane?

  C2H6
• What is the molecular formula for propane?

  C3H8
• What is the molecular formula for butane?

  C4H10
• How do the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms change in alkanes?

  They grow by one carbon and two hydrogens each time
• What is a homologous series in organic chemistry?

  • A group of organic compounds with similar properties
  • React in a similar way
  • Can be described by a general formula
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  CnH2n+2
• What does the general formula CnH2n+2 indicate about the number of hydrogen atoms?

  It indicates that if there are n carbon atoms, there will be 2n + 2 hydrogen atoms
• If an alkane has three carbon atoms, what is its molecular formula?

  C3H8
• What is the molecular formula for octane, which has eight carbon atoms?

  C8H18
• What does it mean for alkanes to be saturated compounds?

  It means that every carbon atom has four single covalent bonds
• What happens to the molecular structure of propane if one of its single bonds is changed to a double bond?

  It would no longer be classified as an alkane but as an alkene
• What will be covered in the next video about alkanes?

  • Properties of alkanes
  • Writing equations for their combustion