Properties of Alkanes

This page covers the key właściwości alkanów, focusing on methane as an example. Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that is lighter than air and insoluble in water. It can be obtained from natural gas or through the decarboxylation of sodium acetate.

Methane is relatively chemically inert but undergoes important reactions:

• Combustion - complete and incomplete burning reactions are described • Halogenation - methane reacts with halogens like chlorine to form halogenated products • Pyrolysis - high temperature decomposition to form synthesis gas

Vocabulary: Pyrolysis - High temperature decomposition of organic compounds in the absence of oxygen

Example: CH₄ + Cl₂ → CH₃Cl + HCl (chlorination of methane to form chloromethane)

Highlight: The stan skupienia alkanów changes from gas to liquid to solid as the carbon chain length increases

Alkanes and Alkenes Comparison

This page summarizes trends in alkane properties and contrasts alkanes with alkenes:

• Boiling point increases by about 20-30°C per carbon atom added • Melting point and density increase with chain length • Flame color becomes more sooty with increasing carbon content

Alkenes are distinguished from alkanes by:

• Higher reactivity due to the carbon-carbon double bond • Ability to decolorize bromine water (woda bromowa + eten) • Different industrial preparation methods (e.g. from calcium carbide)

Example: Czy alkeny ulegają reakcji substytucji? Generally no, alkenes prefer addition reactions instead

Highlight: Understanding the differences between alkeny właściwości and alkany właściwości is crucial for predicting their behavior and applications in organic chemistry