Alkanes in Organic Chemistry

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to alkanes in organic chemistry.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Compounds consisting only of carbon and hydrogen, where carbon atoms are connected by single bonds.

Sigma Bond

A type of covalent bond formed by the direct overlap of orbitals between two atoms.

Carbon-Carbon Bond Angle in Alkanes

The bond angle in an open chain alkane is typically 109.5º.

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory

A theory that predicts the shapes of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs.

Main Component of Natural Gas

The main component is methane.

Boiling Point Prediction

Among ethane, hexane, methane, and nonane, hexane has the highest boiling point.

Isomers

Different compounds that have the same molecular formula but different structures.

IUPAC Naming Principles

Standardized rules for naming chemical compounds, including the order and format of component names.

Condensed Structural Formula

A way to represent a chemical structure in a simplified format, showing relationships between atoms.

Complete Combustion of Alkanes

When alkanes combust completely, the products are carbon dioxide and water (CO2 and H2O).

Cycloalkane

Compounds where carbon atoms are connected in a ring; represented by the formula CnH2n.

Alkyl Group

A group derived from an alkane by removing one hydrogen atom, used in the naming of branches on carbon chains.

General Formula of Alkanes

The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms.

Molecular Formula of Cyclohexane

The molecular formula of cyclohexane is C6H12.

Dichloro Isomers

Different structural isomers that result when two chlorine atoms are attached to propane.