{"id":957,"date":"2018-03-20T16:48:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T16:48:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-orgbiochemistry\/?post_type=chapter&p=957"},"modified":"2018-10-22T20:37:19","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T20:37:19","slug":"12-2-structures-and-names-of-alkanes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroecc-orgbiochemistry\/chapter\/12-2-structures-and-names-of-alkanes\/","title":{"raw":"12.2 Structures and Names of Alkanes","rendered":"12.2 Structures and Names of Alkanes"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Identify and name simple (straight-chain) alkanes given formulas and write formulas for straight-chain alkanes given their names.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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    We began our study of organic chemistry in Chapter 4 \"Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds\"<\/a> with the hydrocarbons<\/span><\/strong><\/span>, the simplest organic compounds, which are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms only. As we noted, there are several different kinds of hydrocarbons. They are distinguished by the types of bonding between carbon atoms and the properties that result from that bonding. Hydrocarbons with only carbon-to-carbon single bonds (C\u2013C) and existing as a continuous chain of carbon atoms also bonded to hydrogen atoms are called alkanes (or saturated hydrocarbons)<\/span><\/strong><\/span>. Saturated<\/em>, in this case, means that each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms (hydrogen or carbon)\u2014the most possible; there are no double or triple bonds in the molecules.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Note<\/h3>\r\n

    The word saturated<\/em> has the same meaning for hydrocarbons as it does for the dietary fats and oils: the molecule has no carbon-to-carbon double bonds (C=C). (For more information about fats and oils, see Chapter 17 \"Lipids\"<\/a>, Section 17.1 \"Fatty Acids\"<\/a> and Section 17.2 \"Fats and Oils\"<\/a>.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    We introduced the three simplest alkanes\u2014methane (CH4<\/sub>), ethane (C2<\/sub>H6<\/sub>), and propane (C3<\/sub>H8<\/sub>)\u2014in Chapter 4 \"Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds\"<\/a>, Section 4.6 \"Introduction to Organic Chemistry\"<\/a>. They are shown again in Figure 12.1 \"The Three Simplest Alkanes\"<\/a>. The flat representations shown do not accurately portray bond angles or molecular geometry. Methane has a tetrahedral shape that chemists often portray with wedges indicating bonds coming out toward you and dashed lines indicating bonds that go back away from you. (For more information about the shape of molecules, see Chapter 4 \"Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds\"<\/a>, Section 4.5 \"Characteristics of Molecules\"<\/a>.) An ordinary solid line indicates a bond in the plane of the page.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1504\"]\"image\" Figure 12.1 The Three Simplest Alkanes<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Recall from Chapter 4 \"Covalent Bonding and Simple Molecular Compounds\"<\/a>, Section 4.5 \"Characteristics of Molecules\"<\/a> that the VSEPR theory correctly predicts a tetrahedral shape for the methane molecule (Figure 12.2 \"The Tetrahedral Methane Molecule\"<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1504\"]\"image\" Figure 12.2 The Tetrahedral Methane Molecule<\/em>[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Methane (CH4<\/sub>), ethane (C2<\/sub>H6<\/sub>), and propane (C3<\/sub>H8<\/sub>) are the beginning of a series of compounds in which any two members in a sequence differ by one carbon atom and two hydrogen atoms\u2014namely, a CH2<\/sub> unit. The first 10 members of this series are given in Table 12.2 \"The First 10 Straight-Chain Alkanes\"<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Table 12.2<\/span> The First 10 Straight-Chain Alkanes<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Name<\/th>\r\nMolecular Formula (Cn<\/em><\/sub>H2<\/sub>n<\/em><\/sub> + 2<\/sub>)<\/th>\r\nCondensed Structural Formula for Continuous Chain<\/th>\r\nNumber of Possible Isomers<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    methane<\/td>\r\nCH4<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH4<\/sub><\/td>\r\n\u2014<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    ethane<\/td>\r\nC2<\/sub>H6<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n\u2014<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    propane<\/td>\r\nC3<\/sub>H8<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n\u2014<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    butane<\/td>\r\nC4<\/sub>H10<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n2<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    pentane<\/td>\r\nC5<\/sub>H12<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n3<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    hexane<\/td>\r\nC6<\/sub>H14<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n5<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    heptane<\/td>\r\nC7<\/sub>H16<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    octane<\/td>\r\nC8<\/sub>H18<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n18<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    nonane<\/td>\r\nC9<\/sub>H20<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n35<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    decane<\/td>\r\nC10<\/sub>H22<\/sub><\/td>\r\nCH3<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH2<\/sub>CH3<\/sub><\/td>\r\n75<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Consider the series in Figure 12.3 \"Members of a Homologous Series\"<\/a>. The sequence starts with C3<\/sub>H8<\/sub>, and a CH2<\/sub> unit is added in each step moving up the series. Any family of compounds in which adjacent members differ from each other by a definite factor (here a CH2<\/sub> group) is called a homologous series<\/span><\/strong><\/span>. The members of such a series, called homologs<\/em>, have properties that vary in a regular and predictable manner. The principle of homology<\/em> gives organization to organic chemistry in much the same way that the periodic table gives organization to inorganic chemistry. Instead of a bewildering array of individual carbon compounds, we can study a few members of a homologous series and from them deduce some of the properties of other compounds in the series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1759\"]\"image\" Figure 12.3 Members of a Homologous Series.\u00a0<\/em>Each succeeding formula incorporates one carbon atom and two hydrogen atoms more than the previous formula.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    The principle of homology allows us to write a general formula for alkanes: Cn<\/em><\/sub>H2<\/sub>n<\/em><\/sub> + 2<\/sub>. Using this formula, we can write a molecular formula for any alkane with a given number of carbon atoms. For example, an alkane with eight carbon atoms has the molecular formula C8<\/sub>H(2 \u00d7 8) + 2<\/sub> = C8<\/sub>H18<\/sub>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Concept Review Exercises<\/h3>\r\n
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      In the homologous series of alkanes, what is the molecular formula for the member just above C8<\/sub>H18<\/sub>?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t

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      Use the general formula for alkanes to write the molecular formula of the alkane with 12 carbon atoms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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      Answers<\/h3>\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"872574\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"872574\"]\r\n
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      1. C9<\/sub>H20<\/sub><\/li>\r\n \t
      2. C12<\/sub>H26<\/sub>\u00a0[\/hidden-answer]<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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        Key Takeaway<\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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