A. chain alkanes

B. cycloalkanes

C. branched alkanes

• Methane (CH₄): Found in natural gas; used for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.

• Ethane (C₂H₆): Used to produce ethylene for plastics.

• Propane (C₃H₈): Used in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and heating.

• Butane (C₄H₁₀): Also used in LPG, lighters, and as a refrigerant.

• Pentane (C₅H₁₂): Used as a solvent and fuel additive.

• Hexane (C₆H₁₄): Used in degreasing, cleaning, and petrochemical production.

• Heptane (C₇H₁₆): Solvent in paints and fuel additive.

• Octane (C₈H₁₈): Determines gasoline quality and prevents engine knocking.

• Nonane (C₉H₂₀) & Decane (C₁₀H₂₂): Minor gasoline components and used as solvents.

• Solubility: Alkanes are non-polar and hydrophobic, insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.

• Boiling Point: Increases with molecular weight; straight-chain alkanes have higher boiling points than branched isomers.

• Melting Point: Also increases with molecular weight; even-numbered alkanes have higher melting points due to better packing in solid form.

• Isomers have the same molecular formula but different atomic arrangements.

• Branched alkanes exhibit variations in boiling points and reactivity.

1. Identify the longest carbon chain (parent chain).

2. Identify and name the branches (alkyl groups).

3. Number the carbon chain to give the lowest possible number to the branches.

4. Arrange branches alphabetically and use prefixes (di-, tri-, tetra-) for multiple identical groups.

5. Use hyphens to separate numbers from names and commas between numbers.