naming alkanes

Question 1

what is a hydrocarbon

Answer 1

• a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms

Question 2

what is a saturated hydrocarbon

Answer 2

• has carbon-carbon single bonds

Question 3

what is an unsaturated hydrocarbon

Answer 3

• contains carbon-carbon multiple bonds

Question 4

what are the three ways a hydrocarbon can be classified and describe them

Answer 4

• aliphatic = carbon atoms are joined to each other in unbranched or branched chains, or non-aromatic rings
• alicyclic = carbon atoms are joined to each other in a non-aromatic ring, with or without branches
• aromatic = some or all of the carbon atoms are found in a benzene ring

Question 5

what are the three homologous series of aliphatic hydrocarbons

Answer 5

• alkanes
• alkenes
• alkynes

Question 6

how do you name hydrocarbons

Answer 6

• prefix = indicate the presence of side chains
• stem = number of carbon atoms in the longest continuous chain
• suffix = indicates the functional group

Question 7

naming aliphatic hydrocarbons

Answer 7

• identify the longest carbon chain = stem
• add the suffix -‘ane’
• identify any side chains attached to the parent chain, they are known as alkyl groups
• add a number before the alkyl chain to show the position of the side chain on the parent chain (always go for the lowest numbering)

Question 8

what names are given to the parent chain

Answer 8

• 1 carbon = methane
• 2 carbons = ethane
  -3 carbons = propane
• 4 carbons = butane
• 5 carbons = pentane
• 6 carbons = hexane
• 7 carbons = heptane
• 8 carbons = octane
• 9 carbons = nonane
• 10 carbons = decane

Question 9

how do you name cyclohexanes

Answer 9

• identify the longest continuous carbon chain
• add the suffix -ane
• add the prefix cyclo-