Alkanes - The Saturated Hydrocarbons
Alkanes are like the steady, reliable friends of the hydrocarbon world. Each carbon atom links to four other atoms using single bonds, making them saturated hydrocarbons - they've got the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible.
These molecules follow the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂. Starting simple: methane (CH₄) has one carbon, ethane (C₂H₆) has two carbons, propane (C₃H₈) has three, and butane (C₄H₁₀) has four. Notice how each carbon is surrounded by hydrogen atoms in a neat, predictable pattern.
Alkanes are fairly unreactive in normal conditions, but they burn brilliantly - that's why we use them as fuels. Shorter chains like methane release energy more quickly when burning, making them perfect for cooking gas.
💡 Remember: The single lines between atoms represent single covalent bonds - one pair of electrons being shared between two atoms.
All alkanes belong to a homologous series, meaning they share the same functional group and follow the same general formula, just with different chain lengths.