Alkanes (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry: Double Science)

What are alkanes?

• Alkanes are a group of saturated hydrocarbons
• The term saturated means that they only have single carbon-carbon bonds, there are no double bonds
• The general formula of the alkanes is C_nH_2n+2
• Alkanes are generally unreactive compounds but they do undergo combustion reactions, can be cracked into smaller molecules and can react with halogens in the presence of light
• Methane is an alkane and is the major component of natural gas

Table of alkanes

Displayed formula	Name	Molecular formula
	methane	CH4
	ethane	C2H6
	propane	C3H8
	butane	C4H10
	pentane	C5H12

The first five members of the alkane homologous series