alkane
Simplest organic compound
An alkane is a hydrocarbon containing only single bonds between carbon atoms—the simplest class of organic compounds.
Methane, propane, and butane are common alkanes.
They serve as fuels and building blocks for more complex molecules.
The term distinguishes them from alkenes and alkynes, which contain double and triple bonds respectively.
Simplest alkane fuel
- ethaneTwo-carbon alkane
- propaneFlammable hydrocarbon fuel
- butaneFlammable hydrocarbon gas
- pentaneFive-carbon alkane fuel
hexane · heptane · octane · decane · hydrocarbon · saturated · paraffin · homologous
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
- octanePetroleum hydrocarbon measure
- propaneFlammable hydrocarbon fuel
- butaneFlammable hydrocarbon gas
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
gasoline · diesel · kerosene · energy · engine · ignition · flammability · petroleum
Having four triangular sides
- sigmaEighteenth Greek letter
- covalentSharing electrons between atoms
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
- conformerOne who follows norms
staggered · eclipsed · gauche · anti · sawhorse · chair · boat · axial
Root-modifying front element
- suffixWord-ending addition
- rootUnderground absorbing structure
- methylSingle-carbon alkyl group
- ethylTwo-carbon radical
butyl · systematic · trivial · isopropyl · branched · linear · numbering · parent
Disinfecting with a halogen
- brominationAdding bromine to molecules
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
oxidation · radical · initiation · propagation · termination · substitution · photolysis · thermal
methane
Simplest alkane fuel
pentane · hexane · heptane · octane · decane · hydrocarbon · saturated · paraffin · homologous · isomer
combustion
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
methane · gasoline · diesel · kerosene · energy · engine · ignition · flammability · petroleum · refinery
tetrahedral
Having four triangular sides
- sigmaEighteenth Greek letter
- covalentSharing electrons between atoms
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
conformer · staggered · eclipsed · gauche · anti · sawhorse · chair · boat · axial · equatorial
prefix
Root-modifying front element
ethyl · butyl · systematic · trivial · isopropyl · branched · linear · numbering · parent · chain
chlorination
Disinfecting with a halogen
- brominationAdding bromine to molecules
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
cracking · oxidation · radical · initiation · propagation · termination · substitution · photolysis · thermal · inert
- chemicalschemicals, compounds, acids, reagents, solutions
- organic compoundshydrocarbon, ethane, propane, butane, amine
- hydrocarbonsmethane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane
- Nonpolarhexane, octane, benzene, toluene, methane
- petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields
- fuelsgasoline, diesel, coal, gas, petrol