Uses of Alkanes

A report about "Uses of Alkanes" in Consumer Chemistry 9

1. THE VOIDS
 Uses of Alkanes
 Alkanes are compounds that consist only
carbon and hydrogen, it is a hydrocarbon.It is also
known as paraffins or saturated hydrocarbons
because carbon and hydrogen atoms are linked
together exclusively by single bonds.Alkanes
belong to a homologus series of organic
compounds in which the members differ by a
constant molecular mass of 14 that is CH2.General
formula is CnH2n + 2. SOme of the common alkanes
are:-

2. Methane CH4
Ethane CH3-CH3
Propane CH3-CH2-CH3
Butane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH3
Pentane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
Hexane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
Heptane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
Octane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-
CH3
Nonane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-
CH2-CH3
Decane CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-
CH2-CH2-CH3

3.  Application and Uses of Alkanes
Some of the common uses of alkanes are:
-heating
-electricity generation
-Cooking
-production of polymers
- serve as intermediate in the synthesis of drugs,
pesticides and other chemicals
- components of gasoline (pentane and octane)
- paraffin wax

The uses of alkanes can be determined according to
the number of carbon atoms present in it.

4.  Use of Alkanes According to Number of Carbon Atom
 The first four alkanes are used for heating, cooking and electricity
generation. The main components of natural gas are methane and
ethane.
 Propane and Butane are used as LPG(liquified pterolium gas). Propane
is also used in the propane gas burner, butane in disposable cigarette
lighters. They are also used as propellants in Aerosol sprays.
 Alkane having carbon number 5-8 are volatile liquids. They are used as
fuel sand as good solvents for nonpolar substances.
 Alkanes from having carbon 9-16 form the major part of Diesel and
aviation fuel.
 Alkanes from 17 carbon upwards form the most important
components of Fuel oil and lubricating oil also used as anti-corrosive
agents, as their hydrophobic nature means that water cannot reach
the metal surface. Many solid alkanes find use as paraffin wax also.
 Alkanes with 35 or more carbon atoms are used for road surfacing.
 Synthetic Polymers such as polyehtylene are alkanes with chains
containing hundreds of thousands of carbon atoms.