introduction to hydrocarbons

compounds that contain hydrogen and carbon

ONLY

means one or more of the bonds between carbon atoms are double bonds

Unsaturated

means the bonds between carbon atoms are only single bonds

Saturated

Unsaturated

Saturated

​single bond between the carbons double bond between the carbons

eg. methane butane hexane

Their names all end in -ane

the first part of the name tells us the number of carbons in the molecule

pent = 5
hex = 6
hept = 7
oct = 8

meth = 1
eth = 2
prop = 3
but = 4

​Prop tells us there are 3 carbon atoms in the molecule

​ane tells us the molecule is saturated so all the carbon to carbon bonds are single bonds

this is just the number of atoms of each element in a compound.

its molecular formula is C₅H₁₂
because it has 5 carbons and 12 hydrogens

​This is pentane. It has all single bonds and five carbons

​Note: the carbons always come first, then the hydrogens

displayed formula
shows the positions of all the atoms and bonds in a molecule

C₃H₈
Propane

molecular formula
shows the number of atoms of each element in the compound