alkaneves

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are composed solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2, where 'n' represents the number of carbon atoms. This formula dictates the structure and properties of each alkane molecule. The simplest alkane is methane (CH4), with one carbon atom. Following methane are ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10), each adding one more carbon atom to the chain. As the number of carbon atoms increases, the alkanes form a homologous series, where each successive member differs by a CH2 group.

Alkanes are generally unreactive due to the strong, nonpolar C-C and C-H single bonds. They do not readily undergo addition reactions that are characteristic of alkenes and alkynes. However, they can participate in combustion reactions, producing carbon dioxide and water when burned in the presence of oxygen, and they can also undergo substitution reactions under specific conditions, such as UV light. Alkanes are primarily used as fuels, with lighter alkanes like natural gas (largely methane) and liquefied petroleum gas (propane and butane) being common energy sources. Heavier alkanes are found in gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oils. Their physical properties, such as boiling point and melting point, increase with increasing molecular weight.