alkanes

The first thing to determine is that the word we are dealing with now is a neologism. Specifically, it was created from the particle “alk-”, which is part of alcohol, and the suffix “-ano”, which is used to give hydrocarbons their names.

A alkane it's a hydrocarbon: a chemical compound formed from the combination of carbon and hydrogen. In this case, it is a hydrocarbon saturated, since their covalent bonds are simple.

Other important facts about alkanes are as follows:
-The formula that defines them is CnH2n + 2. In this case, it must be stated that n corresponds to the number of carbons it has.
-When it comes to naming the alkanes, it is done using the aforementioned suffix "-ano" and a prefix. This can be of different types, such as the following: "met-", "but-", "et-", "prop-" ... Examples of this are methane, propane, butane, ethane ...
-At alkanes it can be said that they are insoluble in water.
-The main use that they are usually given is as fuel. Why? Because, unquestionably, they release a great deal of heat.
-As a general rule, alkanes are divided into four different groups: cyclic, linear, polycyclic and branched.
-Its boiling and melting points are low.
-They are not rigid.
-When analyzing, working and using alkanes, they take on special importance and value from their combustion to the well-known potential energy diagrams. In the same way, we cannot forget either what is known as the Newman projection. This serves to check the energy of the possible conformations that take place.

Alkanes are generally said to be aliphatic because the structure of their molecules assumes an open chain. However, there are also cycloalkanes or cyclic alkanes, which have chains of the cyclic type. In all cases, alkanes do not have functional groups such as carboxyls, carbonyls or others.

The methane is an alkane that has a unique atom carbon. With two carbon atoms we find ethane, Meanwhile he propane has three carbon atoms and the butane, four carbon atoms.

In our planet, it is possible to find alkanes in the Petroleum, the natural gas and the biogas, among other sources. It is also found in the stomach of cows as methane gas, for example.

Importantly, alkanes have been found on other planets. Gaseous planets usually have alkanes in their atmosphere, What Uranus, Neptune, Saturn Y Jupiter. In meteorites that have fallen to the surface of the Land The presence of alkanes has also been detected.

Alkanes have multiple uses. It is possible to use certain alkanes to produce electricity or as fuel to heat and power engines. Alkanes also serve to obtain oils. The use of alkanes must be controlled since it is a compound that, when mixed with air, can explode.