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Chemistry vocabulary · Organic Chemistry

Alkane

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

/ˈælkeɪn/nounCommon term

In chemistry, alkane means: A saturated hydrocarbon with only single bonds between its carbon atoms and the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂. Methane, ethane, propane and butane are the simplest ones.

In Turkish: alkan

How it is used

Usually the first family you study in organic chemistry, because naming rules start here. Alkanes are fairly unreactive, burn well and make up most of natural gas and many fuels. Their names end in '-ane'.

Example sentences

  1. Name this branched alkane using IUPAC rules.

  2. Hexane is a liquid alkane often used as a nonpolar solvent.

Common collocations

  • straight-chain alkane
  • branched alkane
  • cyclic alkane
  • homologous series
  • hydrocarbonA compound made of only carbon and hydrogen. Methane, propane, ethylene and benzene are examples, and crude oil is mostly a mixture of them.
  • alkeneA hydrocarbon with at least one carbon–carbon double bond. Simple ones have the general formula CₙH₂ₙ, and ethene (ethylene) is the smallest.
  • isomerOne of two or more compounds that have the same molecular formula but a different arrangement of atoms, and so have different properties. Butane and isobutane are an example.
  • organic compoundA compound built mainly from carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen, often with oxygen, nitrogen or other elements. Fuels, plastics, drugs and most molecules of living things belong here.

More terms: Organic Chemistry

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