Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

Alkanes are organic compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms that are single-bonded. Alkanes have the formula CnH2n+2, and are classified into three types: chain alkanes, cycloalkanes, and branched alkanes.

Alkane as Saturated hydrocarbons

Alkanes are a class of chemicals that have solitary covalent connections between carbon and hydrogen atoms. These are referred to as saturated hydrocarbons. This class of compounds is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined together by a single covalent bond. An analogous series with the chemical formula CnH2n+2 is also included.

Alkanes are the most basic hydrocarbon family. They are made up of simply carbon and hydrogen. Each carbon atom creates four bonds, while each hydrogen atom forms one. Line-angle formulas are used by chemists because they are easier and faster to draw than condensed structural formulations. Alkane structural formulas can also be written in a condensed form.

The basic alkane methane has one carbon atom and the chemical formula CH4. Because this molecule has only one covalent link, its structural formula is

Additional carbon atoms are joined to each other by a single covalent bond in a long chain alkane molecule. Each atom is linked to a sufficient number of hydrogen atoms to form four single covalent connections. Octane is the name given to this long-chain structure. The chemical formula for an eight-carbon alkane is C8H18 and the structural formula is

Alkane Physical Properties

1. The Alkane Solubility

Alkanes are often non-polar compounds due to the small difference in electronegativity between carbon and hydrogen and the covalent character of the C-C or C-H bond.

Polar molecules, as we know, are soluble in polar solvents, whereas non-polar molecules are soluble in non-polar solvents. As a result, alkanes are hydrophobic in nature, which means they are insoluble in water.

They are soluble in organic solvents, however, since the energy required to overcome existing Van Der Waals forces and generate new Van Der Waals forces is equal.

2. Alkanes’ Boiling Point

As the intermolecular Van Der Waals forces rise with the molecule’s molecular size or surface area, we observe:

The boiling point of alkanes increases with increasing molecular weight, with straight-chain alkanes having a greater boiling point than structural isomers.

3. Alkanes’ Melting Point

The melting point of alkanes follows the same pattern as their boiling point, i.e. it rises as molecular weight rises.

This is because higher alkanes are solids, making it difficult to overcome intermolecular forces of attraction between them.

Even-numbered alkanes have a higher melting point trend than odd-numbered alkanes because the even-numbered alkanes pack well in the solid phase, generating a well-organized structure that is difficult to break.

What exactly are cycloalkanes? 

Distinct organic molecules of organic compounds, such as cycloalkanes, have different properties dependent on their structure. Did you know that body fat exists in the human body and that various food and hair products include these hydrocarbons? As a result, these chemical molecules can be found in all aspects of daily life.

Cycloalkanes are a type of hydrocarbon that has a ring-like structure. This ring is created due to their saturated nature, and they have three alkane compounds present in the structure that aid in the formation of a ring. They have the generic formula CnH2n, where n is the number of carbon atoms in the organic compound.

These include carbon-hydrogen bonds as well as carbon-to-carbon single bonds in which carbon atoms unite to form a ring or a cyclic structure. Cyclopropane is one of the smaller cycloalkanes, and the majority of its components are regarded to be more stable in nature.

Cycloalkanes include cyclopentane, cyclobutane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, and others, as seen in the graphic below. The structure of cycloalkane is determined by the number of carbon atoms present in the chemical. For example, a saturated hydrocarbon with four carbon atoms is known as Cyclobutane, whereas a saturated hydrocarbon with three carbon atoms is known as Cyclopropane.

Properties of Cycloalkanes

The following are the many physical and chemical properties of cycloalkanes:

1.At normal temperature, the first four classes of cycloalkanes are said to be gaseous.

2.The boiling temperatures of these saturated hydrocarbons are claimed to range between 10 and 20 K.

3.These compounds have also been observed to have greater melting points and densities.

4.Because saturated compounds have a ring structure, they are also known as saturated hydrocarbons.

5.Because the electronegativity between the carbon-hydrogen bonds is too low for these compounds, they are considered to lack polarity between the bonds.

6.These saturated hydrocarbons are believed to be water insoluble, while cycloalkanes in liquid form are said to be good solvents for other organic molecules.

7.When cycloalkane is burned, the molecule is destroyed.

8.When compared to other cycloalkanes, cyclopropane is reported to be the most reactive.

Conclusion 

Alkanes are essential raw materials in the chemical industry, as well as the primary component of gasoline and lubricating lubricants. Natural gas is mostly composed of methane and ethane and is used for heating, cooking, and power generation (gas turbines).