Saturated hydrocarbon series

The alkane series is also called the saturated hydrocarbon series because the molecules of this class have carbon atoms connected by single bonds only, and therefore have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible for the number of carbon atoms. These substances may be represented by the general formula C H2,I + 2 and molecules of successive members of the series differ from each other by only a CH2 unit. The line formulas and names of the first 10 members of the series, given in Table 21-2, should be memorized because these names form the basis for naming many other organic compounds. It should be noted that the first parts of the names of the later members listed are the... 

The straight-chain hydrocarbons represent just one group of straight-chain hydrocarbons, the saturated hydrocarbons known as the alkanes. There are other series of hydrocarbons that are unsaturated one of those is important in the study of hazardous materials. Additionally, the first hydrocarbon in another series is the only hydrocarbon important in that series. Each of these hydrocarbon series are briefly described below. 

Alkanes are a class of saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula C H2n. -2- They contain no functional groups, are relatively inert, and can be either straight-chain (normal) or branched. Alkanes are named by a series of IUPAC rules of nomenclature. Compounds that have the same chemical formula but different structures are called isomers. More specifically, compounds such as butane and isobutane, which differ in their connections between atoms, are called constitutional isomers. 

These four molecules are the first four members of the alkanes, a homologous series of saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula, C H2 +2. The difference between them is in the number of C atoms in the compound the formula of each alkane differs from the next by one CH2 group. 

Butane, is the either of two saturated hydrocarbons, or alkanes, with the chemical formula of C4H10 of the paraffin series. In both compounds the carbon atoms are joined in an open chain. In n-butane (normal), the chain is continuous and unbranched whereas in i-butane (iso) one of the carbon atoms forms a side branch. This difference in structure results in small but distinct differences in properties. Thus, n-butane melts at -138.3 °C (-216.9 °F) and boils at -0.5 °C (31.1 °F), and i-butane melts at -145 °C (-229 °F) and boils at -10.2 °C (13.6 °F). 

The straight-chain hydrocarbons represent just one group of straight-chain hydrocarbons, the saturated hydrocarbons known as the alkanes. There are other series of hydrocarbons that are... 

---