Alkanes

• Main use of short chain alkanes

  Fuel
• Why are hydrocarbons used as fuels

  Release large amounts of energy when combusted
• Flammability

  How easily a substance combusts
• Volatility

  How easily a substance vaporises into a gas
• What happens to alkanes as their chain length increases

  Become more viscous

  Become less volatile

  Become less flammable
• Equation for combustion

  Hydrocarbon + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water (+energy)
• Waste products of complete combustion of a hydrocarbon

  Carbon dioxide and water vapour