Understanding Alkanes: The Saturated Hydrocarbons with Wide Applications in Energy, Chemicals, and Plastics

A saturated hydrocarbon that contains only hydrogen (the maximum number) and carbon. Does not contain benzene ring.

The saturated hydrocarbon that meets the given criteria is an alkane

The saturated hydrocarbon that meets the given criteria is an alkane. Alkanes are organic compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms, with only single bonds between the carbon atoms. They are also known as paraffins. Alkanes have the general molecular formula CnH2n+2, where “n” represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Alkanes are the simplest type of hydrocarbons and are considered saturated because they contain the maximum number of hydrogens bonded to each carbon atom. This means that all the carbon atoms in an alkane have formed the maximum number of possible bonds with hydrogen atoms, resulting in a stable and non-reactive molecule.

Alkanes exist as a series of compounds, with each member differing from the previous one by a -CH2- unit. The names of alkanes follow a systematic naming convention based on the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. For example:

– Methane (CH4): the simplest alkane, containing only one carbon atom.
– Ethane (C2H6): contains two carbon atoms.
– Propane (C3H8): contains three carbon atoms.
– Butane (C4H10): contains four carbon atoms.
– Pentane (C5H12): contains five carbon atoms.

And the series continues as hexane (C6H14), heptane (C7H16), octane (C8H18), and so on.

It is important to note that alkanes do not contain a benzene ring. Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, and its structure consists of a ring of six carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.

Alkanes have various uses, like being a major component of natural gas and petroleum. They are used as fuels, solvents, and raw materials in a wide range of industries, including energy production, chemicals, and plastics.

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