Methane
CH4
-One Carbon
Ethane
C2H6:CH3CH3
-2 carbons
Propane
C3H8:CH3CH2CH3
3 carbons
Butane
C4H10:CH3CH2CH2CH3
-4 carbons
Pentane
C5H12:CH3(CH2)3CH3
-5 carbons
Hexane
C6H14:CH3(CH2)4CH3
-6 carbons
Heptane
C7H16:CH3(CH2)5CH3
Octane
C8H18
Nonane
C9H20:CH3(CH2)7CH3
Decane
C10H22;CH3(CH2)8CH3
unbranched alkanes
have greater van der Waals forces of attraction because of their greater surface areas.
-have all their carbon atoms in a straight chain formation.
Parent chain
the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms in a branched-chain alkane, alkene, or alkyne
-serves as the main part of the name of a branched alkane
One carbon branch
methyl
-CH3
A two carbon branch is called
ethyl
-CH2Ch3
three carbon branch
propyl (Ch2Ch2Ch3)
-isopropyl (CH3)2(CH)
Four carbon branch
Butyl: CH2CH2CH2CH3
Isobutyl: (CH3)2CHCH2-
Sec-butyl: CH3CH-CH2CH3
tert-butyl: (CH3)3C-
Five carbon branch
Pentyl : CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3,