This topic summary covers Topic Summary: Alkanes within Alkanes for GCSE Chemistry. Topic 38: Alkanes It is section 12 of 12 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 12 of 12
Practice
20 questions
Recall
0 flashcards
Topic Summary: Alkanes
Key Terms
- Alkane — saturated hydrocarbon, CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
- Saturated — single C-C bonds only
- Homologous series — family with same general formula
- General formula — CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
First Four Alkanes (MEPB)
- Methane — CH₄ (gas)
- Ethane — C₂H₆ (gas)
- Propane — C₃H₈ (gas)
- Butane — C₄H₁₀ (gas)
Properties
- Longer chain = higher bp
- Immiscible with water
- Good fuels (combust in O₂)
- Relatively unreactive
Exam Checklist
- Saturated = single bonds, NOT "full of H"
- Use CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ for formulas
- Carbon always makes 4 bonds
- Alkanes vs alkenes: sat vs unsat