How can you distinguish between alkanes, alkenes and alkynes?
1 Answer
May 11, 2016
Alkanes have single bonds between carbons in a hydrocarbon. Alkenes have double bonds between carbons.
Alkynes have triple bonds between carbons.
Explanation:
Alkanes have single bonds between carbons in a hydrocarbon. A quick way to recognize an alkane is the general formula:
Examples:
- methane,
#"CH"_4# - ethane,
#"C"_2"H"_6# - propane,
#"C"_3"H"_8# - butane,
#"C"_4"H"_10#
Alkenes have double bonds between carbons. A quick way to recognize an alkene is its general formula:
Examples:
- ethene,
#"C"_2"H"_4# - propene,
#"C"_3"H"_6# - butene,
#"C"_4"H"_8#
And alkynes have triple bonds between carbons. A quick way to recognize an alkynes is its general formula:
Examples:
- ethyne,
#"C"_2"H"_2# - propyne,
#"C"_3"H"_4# - butyne,
#"C"_4"H"_6#