Alkane properties

• Boiling point increases, Melting point increases
• Shorter alkanes are more volatile - evaporate more easily
• Longer Alkanes are more viscous - thicker and stickier
• Shorter alkanes are more flammable
• Chains that are less than 4 carbons are gases at room temp
• Chains that are longer than 4 carbons are liquid at room temp
• Chains that are extremely long may be solid at room temp
• complete combustion only happens if there is enough oxygen
• Combustion equation

  Hydrogen + oxygen ---> carbon dioxide + water
• Combustion is an exothermic reaction because it releases energy
• Properties depend on the length of the chain and the number of carbons in the chain, shortest having low boiling points, volatile, flammable