alaknes properties and combustion

• The boiling point increases with chain length
• methane, ethane, butane and propane all exist as gasses at room temperature
• Shorter alkanes are more volatile (evaporate more easily)
• Longer alkanes are mos viscous (thick and sticky)
• Shorter alkanes are more flammable
• one of the main uses of hydrocarbons is fuel because they release loads of energy when burnt
• in complete combustion, the equation is:

  Hydrocarbon + Oxygen ---> Carbon Dioxide + Water

  This is an exothermic reaction that releases loads of energy.

  You could say that hydrogen and carbon are being oxidised.
• 'Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of Propane'

  1. (unbalanced) C3H8 + O2 ---> CO2 +H20
  2. (balanced) C3H8 + 5O2 ---> 3CO2 + 4H2O
• the properties of alkanes depend on the length of their chains
• short hydrocarbons are the best for fuel