PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• POLARITY OF ALKANES?

  non-polar
• WHY ARE ALKANES NON-POLAR?

  only slight electronegative difference (very similar)
• WHAT ARE THE ONLY INTERMOLECULAR FORCES IN ALKANES?

  Van der Waals forces
• WHAT HAPPENS TO VAN DER WAALS FORCES AS SIZE OF MOLECULE INCREASES?

  stronger
• WHAT DOES INCREASING CHAIN LENGTHS OF ALKANES DO TO BOILING POINT?

  increases
• WILL ALKANES WITH BRANCHED CHAINS HAVE LOWER OR HIGHER MELTING POINTS IN COMPARISON TO STRAIGHT CHAIN ALKANES?

  lower
• WHY WILL ALKANES WITH BRANCHED CHAINS HAVE LOWER MELTING POINTS THAN STRAIGHT CHAIN ALKANES?

  cannot pack as closely together (less effective Van der Waals forces)
• WHAT STATE ARE ALKANES WITH LESS THAN 5 CARBONS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

  gas
• WHAT STATE ARE ALKANES WITH 5 TO 17 CARBONS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

  liquid
• WHAT STATE ARE ALKANES WITH 18 OR MORE CARBONS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

  solid
• WHAT ARE ALKANES INSOLUBLE IN?

  water
• WHAT CAN ALKANES MIX WITH?

  other non-polar liquids
• WHY ARE ALKANES INSOLUBLE IN WATER?

  water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds which are stronger than Van der Waals forces
• WHAT DO ALKANES NOT REACT WITH?

  acids, bases, oxidising/ reducing agents
• WHAT DO ALKANES REACT WITH?

  halogens and can burn