Alkane nomenclature Alkanes represent the simplest of the functional groups which are common in organic chemistry. An alkane contains only carbon and hydrogen(a hydrocarbon and contains only single bonds (termed a saturated hydrocarbon. Alkanes have the general formula CH, thus, an alkane with 10 carbons (n =10)will have 2(10)+2=22 hydrogens, or the molecular formula C,Hz. The root, or parent name for an unbranched alkane is taken directly from the number of carbons in the chain according to a scheme of nomenclature established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry(IUPAC), as shown Condensed Structure methane CHa CHCH propan CH: CH2CH3 pentane CH3(CH2)3CH: CH3(CH2).CH3 CH3(CH2):: octane CH3 (CH2)CH3 CH3(CH2)CH cane CH3 (CH2)3CH3 undecane CH3 (CH])9CH; decane CH(CH2)CH Hydrocarbons, however, are not restricted to linear, unbranched chains and there are often many possible orders in which a hydrocarbon with a given molecular formula can be constructed. Compounds having the same molecularAlkane Nomenclature Alkanes represent the simplest of the functional groups which are common in organic chemistry. An alkane contains only carbon and hydrogen (a hydrocarbon) and contains only single bonds (termed a saturated hydrocarbon. Alkanes have the general formula CnH2n+2, thus, an alkane with 10 carbons (n = 10) will have 2(10) + 2 = 22 hydrogens, or the molecular formula C1 0H2 2. The root, or parent name for an unbranched alkane is taken directly from the number of carbons in the chain according to a scheme of nomenclature established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), as shown below: Name Condensed Structure methane CH4 ethane CH3CH3 propane CH3CH2CH3 butane CH3(CH2)2CH3 pentane CH3(CH2)3CH3 hexane CH3(CH2)4CH3 heptane CH3(CH2)5CH3 octane CH3(CH2)6CH3 nonane CH3(CH2)7CH3 decane CH3(CH2)8CH3 undecane CH3(CH2)9CH3 dodecane CH3(CH2)10CH3 Hydrocarbons, however, are not restricted to linear, unbranched chains and there are often many possible orders in which a hydrocarbon with a given molecular formula can be constructed. Compounds having the same molecular