Alkanes
Chapter Name : Hydrocarbons |
Sub Topic Code : 102_11_13_02_16 |
Topic Name : Alkanes |
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Sub Topic Name : Conformation-Newman Projections |
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Introduction
Alkanes consist only of hydrogen and carbon atoms, all bonds are single bonds, and the carbon atoms are not joined in cyclic structures but instead form an open chain. They have the general chemical formula CnH2n+2.
Pre-Requisites:
Newman Projections
Activity:
Crude oil.
Real Life Question:
What are alkanes?
Key Words / FlashCards
| Key Words | Definitions (pref. in our own words) |
|---|---|
| alkanes | An alkane is a hydrocarbon containing only single carbon-carbon bonds. |
Learning aids / Gadgets
| Gadgets | How it can be used |
|---|---|
| liquefied petroleum gas | A flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles. |
Real life uses :
A Newman projection, useful in alkane stereochemistry, visualizes chemical conformations of a carbon-carbon chemical bond from front to back, with the front carbon represented by a dot and the back carbon as a circle.
Places to visit :
Chemistry laboratory.
Practical examples around us
| Examples | Explainations |
|---|---|
| Ethane | A chemical compound with chemical formula C2H6. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas. Ethane is isolated on an industrial scale from natural gas, and as a byproduct of petroleum refining. Its chief use is as petrochemical feedstock for ethylene production. |
What you learn in Theory:
The front carbon atom is called proximal, while the back atom is called distal. This type of representation is useful for assessing the torsional angle between bonds.
What you learn in Practice:
Newman Projections are also useful when studying a reaction involving prochiral molecules that have a double bond, in which the addition of a new group creates a new stereo center.