Chapter 12.4, Problem 1QQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The general formula for an alkane has to be identified from the given set of options.

Concept Introduction:

Organic compounds are the important basis of life.  They include gasoline, coal, dyes, and clothing fibers etc.  The compounds that are obtained from living organisms are termed as organic compounds and those obtained from the earth are known as inorganic compounds.  Organic compounds are found in earth also apart from living organisms.  All the organic compounds contain the element carbon.  Urea was synthesized in the laboratory which is an organic compound.

Hydrocarbons are the organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms.  Hydrocarbon derivatives are the one in which the compounds contain hydrogen and carbon atoms along with one or more additional elements.  The additional elements that can be present in hydrocarbon derivatives are oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, chlorine, bromine etc.

Hydrocarbons are further classified into two categories.  They are saturated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons.  The hydrocarbons that contain single bonds between carbon atoms in the entire molecule is known as saturated hydrocarbon.  The hydrocarbons that contain at least one double or triple bond between two carbon atoms in the entire molecule is known as unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Alkanes are a class of saturated hydrocarbons that do not contain a ring of carbon atoms but a chain of carbon atoms with carbon‑carbon single bonds.  The general molecular formula for alkanes is ${\text{C}}_{\text{n}}{\text{H}}_{\text{2n+2}}$.  “n” is the number of carbon atoms present.  Some of the basic examples of alkanes are methane (${\text{CH}}_{\text{4}}$), ethane (${\text{C}}_{\text{2}}{\text{H}}_{\text{6}}$).