Chapter 25

Alkanes and alkenes

25.1 Introduction to Organic

Chemistry
Organic Chemistry is the study of all organic

carbothat hydrogen
compounds
contain _________ & ______________.
n

Organic compound may contain elements such as O,

N or a halogen.

A lot of things we use like plastics, rubber, detergents,

insecticides, most medicines are organic compounds.

Organic chemistry
What is it?
This is a very complex branch of chemistry

because

Organic chemistry
Chains and rings

Organic chemistry
Single and multiple bonding

25.2 Classifying Organic

Compounds

Homologous series

25.2 Functional Groups

The compounds in each homologous series, except for

alkanes, have special group of atoms called the

functional group.

all alkENEs contain C=C group. E.g. ethene, C2H4

Alcohols have the OH group. E.g. ethanol, C2H5OH
The functional group is responsible for the chemical

properties of a compound

 General characteristics of an homologous

series

They have the same general formula/ the same

functional group
They have similar chemical properties/undergo the

same chemical reactions

The formula of each member differs from the next by

a CH2 group
The physical properties show a gradual change as

the number of carbon atoms in the molecules

increases

1. The diagram shows the

structures of four organic
molecules.

Which two are members of the same homologous series?

A. P and R
B. P and S
C. Q and R
D. R and S

2. The diagram shows the

structure of a compound X.

How is X classified?
A. as an acid and as an alcohol
B. as an alkene and as an acid
C. as an alkene and as an alcohol
D. as an alkane and as ester

3 Which statement about

members of a homologous
series is correct?
A. they contain the same number of bonds per
molecule
B. they have the same empirical formula
C. they have the same number of carbon atoms
per molecule
D. they undergo similar reactions

4. Which diagram represents a

molecule of an alkane?

Exercises: pg 438 Q 1 -2
1 a) Which families of organic compounds are
hydrocarbons? Alkanes and alkenes
b) Which family of hydrocarbons
alkenes
i) Has a functional group,
alkanes
ii) Does not have a functional group?
2. The compounds ethene and propene are
both alkenes. What will the formula of both
Both will contain a carbon-carbon
compounds contain?
double bond

Organic Chemistry
Prefix

The number of
Carbon Atom

Prefix

The number
of Carbon
atom

Meth-

Hex-

Eth-

Hept-

Prop-

Oct-

But-

Non-

Pent-

Dec-

10

Organic Chemistry
Alkane
- Made up of single bonds only
- Suffix -ane

Alkene
- Contains a double bond
- Suffix -ene

Organic Chemistry
Alcohol
- Contains OH bond in the molecule
- Suffix -anol

Carboxylic Acid
- Contain COOH bond in the molecule
- Organic Acid
- Suffix -anoic acid

Organic Chemistry
Methane
- Has 1 carbon atom
- Combined with 4 hydrogen atoms by using

single covalent bond

- Images of methane (Structural Formula)

Steps of naming an organic

compound

Alkanes
What are they?

25.3 Alkanes
Fuels produced from petroleum, such as diesel

and petrol, are mixtures of alkanes

The names of all alkanes end with ane
The formula of one alkane differs from the

formula of the next by a CH2

atoms.

group of

The carbon atoms are joined by single

covalent bonds
They are saturated hydrocarbons as they

contain the maximum number of hydrogen

atoms

1. Complete the table below: Relative

molecular mass of C = 12.00, H = 1.00

Methane,
CH
4
Ethan
__________,
e
C2H6
C3H8
Propane,
__________
Butan
__________,
e
C4H10
C5H12
Pentane,
__________

Boiling
Relative
At room
point (oC) molecular temperat
mass
ure
-162
16
Gas
-89
-42
0
36

30
44
58
72

Gas
Gas
Gas
Liquid

Alkane structures

Condensed
structural
formula

CH4

CH3CH3
CH3CH2CH3

Alkane structures

Alkane structures

25.3 Alkanes Physical Properties

There is a gradual change in physical properties as

the number of carbon atoms in the molecules

increases.

i)

Boiling point increases as carbon number increases

ii)

Solubility insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents e.g.

tetrachloromethane

iii)

Density increases as carbon number increases

iv)

Viscosity more viscous as carbon number increases.

v)

Flammability less flammable as carbon number increases.

This is because the molecules evaporate less easily

Some properties of alkanes

Solubility
Density

insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents

Greater number of C atoms = higher density

25.3 Alkanes Reactions of Alkanes

All alkanes have similar chemical because they belong

to the same homologous series.

Alkanes are UNREACTIVE; they do not react with most

chemicals.

There are 2 reactions:

1) Combustion
2) Reaction with Chlorine

Alkanes - Combustion
Alkanes burn in air to form carbon dioxide &

water.

The main use of alkanes is in combustion to produce

energy e.g. cooking, fuels for vehicles.

Greater number of C atoms = less flammable, more

sooty flame

Sometimes, incomplete combustion happens instead

and

carbon monoxide & soot are produced.

Higher alkanes will burn less completely and gives a

more sooty flame

Alkanes Reaction with Chlorine

Alkanes react with chlorine/bromine in the

presence of LIGHT.

The reaction is known as SUBSTITUTION

REACTION.

The substitution of alkanes WILL NOT take

place in darkness.

The light energy is used to break the

covalent bond in the chlorine molecule to

produce chlorine atoms.

chlorometha
ne

dichlorometha
ne

trichloromethan
e

tetrachlorometha

Optional
2
2
________CH4+ ________ O2 ________ CO2 +
________
H2O 7
2
4
6
________ C2H65
+ ________ O
3 2 ________
4 CO2 +

________ H2O
2
13
8
10
________ C3H8+ ________ O2 ________ CO2 +
________ H2O
________ C4H10+ ________ O2 ________ CO2 +

________ H2O

Exercises: pg 443 Q 1 -2
1 Look at the structure of the ethane molecule
1CC
a) How many C C bonds does it have?
bond
6CH
b) How many C H bonds does it have?
bond
c) Draw an electron diagram for the molecule.
Use outer shells only

Exercises: pg 443 Q 1 -2
2. Petrol is a mixture of alkane molecules.
a) Approximately how many carbon atoms do

molecules in petrol have? Write the molecular

formulae for some of these alkanes.
Molecules in petrol have approximately 5 to
10 carbon atoms. Some of these alkanes
have the molecular formula of C5H12 and
C10H22.
b) What is the approximate range of boiling points
of
petrol?
why it does
not have
Petrol
hasExplain
an approximate
boiling
pointa single
boiling
point.
range of
35OC to 75 OC. Petrol is a mixture of
compounds and so boils over a range of
temperatures
Around 0.7 g/cm3. (Refer to pg 440 of the
c) Predict
the approximate density of petrol?
textbook)

Alkenes
What are they?

25.4 AlkENEs
obtained from petroleum through cracking of

alkanes.

The general formula ______.

Names of alkENEs end in ENE.
They differ by CH2 group.
Like alkane, melting points, boiling points,

densities & viscosities increases while

flammability decreases as carbon number
increase.

They all contain C = C bonds and are said to be

unsaturated hydrocarbons

Alkene structures

1. Complete the table below: Relative

molecular mass of C = 12.00, H = 1.00
Boiling
Relative
At room
point (oC) molecular temperat
mass
ure
__________,
Ethen
C2eH4
Propene,
C3H6
__________
__________,
Buten
Ce4H8
Pentene,
C5H10
__________

-89
-42
0
36

28
42
56
70

Gas
Gas
Gas
Liquid

AlkENEs Reactions
= C ______, they
As alkenes contain same functional C
group
have similar chemical properties.

The presence of the double bond makes the alkenes

MORE REACTIVE than alkanes.

There are two main reactions:

1) Combustion
2) Addition Reactions two or more molecules react to

form a single product

-)

Addition of hydrogen (hydrogenation)

-)

Addition of bromine (used as a test for alkenes)

-)

Addition of water alcohols

AlkENEs Combustion
AlkENEs burn in air like alkANEs.
CO2 _____
H2O &
Hence they burn in air to produce:

_______

incomplet
Carbon monoxide
& soot (carbon) are
e

produced if the combustion is

______________.

In practice, 3alkenes produce

more
soot
2
2

than alkanes when they burn in air.

________ C2H4+ ________ O2 ________ CO2 +

________ H2O

Addition reaction
Alkene + hydrogen
(Hydrogenation)
Conditions:
Nickel
catalyst
200OC

Alkanes and alkenes

How can you tell them apart?

Addition reactions
Alkene + Bromine
(Bromination)

No catalyst

Addition reactions
Alkene + steam(hydration)

No

Conditions:
Phosphoric acid catalyst
300OC
60-70 atm
catalyst

Polymerisation

Exercises: pg 447 Q 1 -4
1. Draw electron diagrams for ethene and propene

(use outer shells only)

2. Write the molecular formula of the products when

butene reacts with

C4H8Br2
a) bromine
C4H9OH
b) water.
C4H10
c) hydrogen

Exercises: pg 447 Q 1 -4
3 Limonene is an alkene found in orange peel oil.
What would you expect to observe if an aqueous
solution of bromine is shaken with a few drops of
The reddish
brown colour of bromine solution
orange
peel oil?
would be decolourised
4. A closed flask A contains a hydrocarbon with the
formula C3H6. Another closed flask B contains a
hydrocarbon with the formula C4H10. A little
bromine
solution is
to is
each
Flask A contains
C3added
H6 which
an flask, and the
flask is shaken. What would you expect to see in
unsaturated alkene and will decolourise
each flask.
aqueous bromine. Flask B contains C4H10
which is a saturated alkane and will not have
any effect on the bromine solution.

25.5 Isomerism in Alkanes & Alkenes

- Isomers are different compounds with the

same molecular formula.

- They have different structural formulae &

different boiling points.

Exercises: pg 450 Q 1 -2
1. The structural formula of pentane is:

Write the structural formula of two other

hydrocarbons that are isomers of pentane

2. Write the structural formulae of two isomers with

molecular formula C2H4Br2

Exercises: pg 451 Q 1 -2
1. Suggest how you would attempt to test a

vegetable oil to find out if it is unsaturated.

Shake the vegetable oil with bromine
solution. If the vegetable oil is unsaturated,
the reddish brown colour of bromine would
be decolourised.
2. What type of reaction is the conversion of
vegetable oil into margarine?
Addition reaction

Cracking
What happens?
Large hydrocarbons are vaporised (turned into

gas)

The vapors are passed over a hot catalyst

Bonds are broken and smaller molecules are

made

Thermal decomposition (breaking up by

heating) takes place

Catalysts help speed up reactions

Cracking
What happens?
Many different hydrocarbons are produced

because the molecules can break down in

different ways

Cracking
Why is it done?
Production of fuel for motor cars
Production of alkenes
Production of hydrogen

1. Write down the equations to show

examples of cracking. Which alkane is
produced?
a) cracking of decane (C10H22) to obtain ethene

and an alkane.

C10H22

Octane
C2H4 + C8H18

b) cracking octane (C8H18) to obtain propene

and an alkane.
pentane
C8H18 C3H6 + C5H12

c) cracking ethane to obtain ethene and a gas.

C2H6 C2H4 + H2

hydrogen

Exercises: pg 453 Q 1 -3
1. Suggest the names of two other petroleum

fractions that can be manufactured from the

cracking
of diesel
the lubricating
oil fraction.
Why
is this
Petrol and
are manufactured
from
the
important?
cracking of lubricating oil fractions. This
provides more of these fuels as there are not
enough petrol and diesel in petroleum to
meet the demand for them.
2. The following equation shows a cracking reaction.

C14H30 C12H24 + compound X

Compound X is Ethane, C2H6
What is the name and formula of compound X?

Exercises: pg 453 Q 1 -3
3. Write a balanced chemical equation in each
case to show the cracking of C16H34 to
produce
a) One alkane molecule with six carbon atoms

C6H14 +molecule
C10H20 and
and one alkene
C16H34
6C2H4molecules
+ C8H18 and one other
b) Four ethene
molecule
) C16H34

Organic Chemistry
Skeletal Formula
- Each end of the line represent a carbon

atom
Example
- Contains 6 carbon, can be written as

Structural Formula

Organic Chemistry

5 Carbon Atoms = PentSingle Bond

= -ane

Name of the compound

= Pentane

Organic Chemistry

5 Carbon Atoms = PentDouble Bond

= -ene

Name of the compound

= Pentene

Organic Chemistry

5 Carbon Atoms = Pent-OH bond

= -anol

Name of the compound

= Pentanol

Organic Chemistry

6 Carbon Atoms = HexCarboxylic Acid

= -anoic acid

Name of the compound

= Hexanoic Acid

Organic Chemistry

2 Carbon Atoms =Eth Carboxylic Acid

= -anoic acid

Name of the compound

= Ethanoic Acid

Organic Chemistry

6 Carbon Atoms = HexSingle Bond

= -ane

Name of the compound

= Hexane

Organic Chemistry

4 Carbon Atoms = ButDouble Bond

= -anoic Acid

Name of the compound

= Butanoic Acid

Organic Chemistry

8 Carbon Atoms = OctDouble Bond Bond

= -ene

Name of the compound

= Octene

Organic Chemistry
Draw the
i)

structural formula of Butene

ii) Skeletal Formula of Butene