Alkanes: The Simplest Organic Compounds

CHEM 109: General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Methane

Molecular formula: CH₄
Number of carbon atoms: 1
Condensed structure: CH₄

Ethane

Molecular formula: C2H6
Number of carbon atoms: 2
Condensed structure: CH3CH3

Propane

Molecular formula: C3H8
Number of carbon atoms: 3
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure: /\

Butane

Molecular formula: C4H10
Number of carbon atoms: 4
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure:/\/

Pentane

Molecular formula: C5H12
Number of carbon atoms: 5
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure: /\/\

Hexane

Molecular formula: C6H14
Number of carbon atoms: 6
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure:/\/\/

Heptane

Molecular formula: C7H16
Number of carbon atoms: 7
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure:/\/\/\

Octane

Molecular formula: C8H18
Number of carbon atoms: 8
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure:/\/\/\/

Nonane

Molecular formula: C9H20
Number of carbon atoms: 9
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure: /\/\/\/\

Decane

Molecular formula: C10H22
Number of carbon atoms: 10
Condensed structure: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
Skeletal Structure: /\/\/\/\/

Cyclopropane

C3H6 - triangle

Cyclobutane

C4H8 - square

Cyclopentane

C5H10 - pentagon

Cyclohexane

C6H12 - hexagon