Hydrocarbons which contain only single bonds are called alkanes. They are called saturated hydrocarbons because there is a hydrogen in every possible location.
Five common alkanes are methane (natural gas), ethane, propane, butane, and octane (gasoline).
The alkanes are highly combustible and are valuable as clean fuels, burning to form water and carbon dioxide. Methane, ethane, propane and butane are gases at room temperature, and are used directly as fuels.
Five common alkanes are methane (natural gas), ethane, propane, butane, and octane (gasoline).
The alkanes are highly combustible and are valuable as clean fuels, burning to form water and carbon dioxide. Methane, ethane, propane and butane are gases at room temperature, and are used directly as fuels.
Gasoline is a mixture of alkanes from pentane up to about decane.
Kerosene contains alkanes from about 10 to 16 carbon atoms.
Above n=17, the alkanes are solids at room temperature. Alkanes with higher values of n are found in diesel fuel, fuel oil, petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, motor oils, and for the highest values of n, asphalt.
Alkane derivatives are used in thousands of products such as plastics, paints, drugs, cosmetics, detergents, insecticides, and so on.
Alkane derivatives are used in thousands of products such as plastics, paints, drugs, cosmetics, detergents, insecticides, and so on.
