Alkanes are compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen that contain only single carbon-carbon bonds. They follow the general formula CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbons in the molecule.
Alkanes in which the carbons are continuously linked (without branching) are called linear chain alkanes.
[1] Methane
[2] Ethane
[3] Propane
[4] Butane
The family of linear alkanes is an example of a homologous series. A homologous series of compounds is one in which successive members differ by a methylene group (CH2). The general formula for homologous alkanes is CH3(CH2)nCH3. Propane (CH3CH2CH3, with n=1) and butane (CH3CH2CH2CH3, with n=2) are homologous.
In a homologous series, physical properties vary continuously, both melting and boiling points increase as the number of carbons in the molecule increases.
Alkanes with branches are called branched chain alkanes.
[5] 2-Methylbutane