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 smallest alkane?

  Methane
• How many hydrogen atoms are in ethane?

  Six
• What is the molecular formula for propane?

  C3H8
• 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 and reactions
• What is the general formula for alkanes?

  CnH2n+2
• If an alkane has three carbon atoms, how many hydrogen atoms does it have?

  Eight
• What is the molecular formula for octane?

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

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

  It would no longer be classified as an alkane
• What are the first four alkanes in the series?

  1. Methane (C1H4)
  2. Ethane (C2H6)
  3. Propane (C3H8)
  4. Butane (C4H10)
• What are the key features of alkanes?

  • Saturated compounds
  • No double bonds
  • General formula: CnH2n+2
  • Similar properties in homologous series