Organic ChemistryKey Facts

Key Facts: Alkanes

Part of AlkanesGCSE Chemistry

This key facts covers Key Facts: Alkanes within Alkanes for GCSE Chemistry. Topic 38: Alkanes It is section 7 of 12 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 7 of 12

Practice

20 questions

Recall

0 flashcards

📝 Key Facts: Alkanes

  • General formula: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
  • Saturated = only single C-C bonds (no double bonds)
  • First four: Methane (CH₄), Ethane (C₂H₆), Propane (C₃H₈), Butane (C₄H₁₀)
  • Naming prefix: Meth=1, Eth=2, Prop=3, But=4, Pent=5, Hex=6
  • Longer chains = higher boiling point
  • Good fuels — burn in oxygen to release energy
  • Generally unreactive — no easily broken bonds
  • They're immiscible with water (don't mix)

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Alkanes. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Alkanes

What is the general formula for the alkane homologous series?

  • A. CₙH₂ₙ
  • B. CₙH₂ₙ₋₂
  • C. CₙHₙ
  • D. CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
1 markfoundation

Explain why the boiling point of alkanes increases as the chain length increases.

3 marksstandard

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