ALKANES - Organic Chemistry (CHM 004)

VOCABULARY flashcards covering the structure, properties, synthesis, and reactions of alkanes based on the CHM 004 lecture notes.

Alkanes

A family of aliphatic hydrocarbons with the general formula $C_nH_{2n+2}$.

$sp^3$ Hybridization

The orbital state of carbon atoms in alkanes, characterized by tetrahedral geometry and bond angles of $109.5^{\circ}$.

Conformers

Different arrangements of atoms that are interconverted and formed by rotations about a single $C-C$ bond.

Torsional strain

The deviation from the staggered arrangement during rotation about a single bond.

Newman projections

A method of representing staggered and eclipsed conformations to visualize torsional strain.

Structural (Chain) Isomerism

A type of isomerism where compounds have the same molecular formula but different arrangements of the carbon skeleton, such as n-butane and isobutane.

n-butane

An alkane with the formula $C_4H_{10}$ having a boiling point of $0^{\circ}C$ and a density of $0.622\,\text{g/cc}$.

Isobutane

An isomer of butane with a boiling point of $-12^{\circ}C$ and a density of $0.604\,\text{g/cc}$.

Tertiary carbon ($3^{\circ}$)

A carbon atom that is attached to three other carbon atoms.

Fractional distillation

The process of separating petroleum into usable fractions (such as gasoline or kerosene) in an oil refinery based on similar boiling points.

Natural gas

A fossil fuel composed largely of methane, with lesser amounts of ethane, propane, and butane.

Petroleum

A complex mixture of compounds, mostly hydrocarbons containing one to forty carbon atoms.

Ligroin

A petroleum fraction with a boiling range of $60-100^{\circ}C$ containing $C_6-C_7$ carbons.

Grignard reagent

A reagent with the formula $RMgX$, formed by reacting an alkyl halide ($R-X$) with magnesium ($Mg$).

Pyrolysis (cracking)

The process of heating alkanes to $400-600^{\circ}C$ to break them into smaller alkanes, alkenes, and $H_2$ to increase gasoline yield.

Halogenation

The reaction of an alkane ($R-H$) with a halogen ($X_2$) in the presence of heat or light ($hv$) to produce an alkyl halide ($R-X$) and a hydrogen halide ($HX$).

Cycloalkanes

Alkanes containing a ring of carbon atoms, typically represented by the general formula $C_nH_{2n}$.