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Chemical Analysis, Organic Chemistry and Materials

Alkanes and why they are saturated

  • 2 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The formulae and bonding of methane, ethane, propane and butane, the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, and why alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons containing only single bonds.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Describe the bonding in ethane and propane, give the alkanes' general formula, and explain why alkanes are saturated.

Key term

How many covalent bonds are there in a molecule of ethane, and between which atoms?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Give the formula of a molecule of methane.

    Model answer

    CH₄.

  2. 2

    Give the formula of a molecule of ethane.

    Model answer

    C₂H₆.

  3. 3

    Give the formula of a molecule of propane.

    Model answer

    C₃H₈.

  4. 4

    Give the formula of a molecule of butane.

    Model answer

    C₄H₁₀.

  5. 5

    How many covalent bonds are there in a molecule of ethane, and between which atoms?

    Model answer

    Seven: six carbon–hydrogen bonds and one carbon–carbon bond.

  6. 6

    In a molecule of propane, how many hydrogen atoms are joined to each of the three carbon atoms?

    Model answer

    Three hydrogen atoms are joined to each end carbon atom and two to the middle carbon atom.

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