Physical properties of alkanes & cycloalkane

Boiling
Point

Physical
state

Solubility

Physical state
At room temperature (25oC) and atmospheric
pressure (1 atm), for unbranched alkanes,
C1 C4 : gases
C5 C17 : liquids
C18 - more : solids

Boiling points
The boiling points of the straight
alkanes show a regular increase with
increasing molecular weight.
Branching of the alkanes chain, lower
the boiling point.

Mr boiling point
VIDEO3

 C-H is non polar bond

Intermolecular forces exist London
dispersion
The London dispersion forces increase :
As molecular weight increases,
Molecular size increases
Molecular surface area increase
Therefore, more energy is required to
separate molecules from one another
Result - a higher boiling point.

Mr boiling point

 Chain branching :
makes a molecule more compact
Surface area reduces
The strength of the London
dispersion forces reduce
Lower boiling points.

VIDEO4

Isomeric Alkanes
Have different boiling point due to branching
Pentane

2-methylbutane

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3

CH3CHCH2CH3
CH3

2,2dimethylpropane
CH3
CH3CCH3
CH3

37 C
o

28.5oC

9oC

For example, butane and 2-methylpropane

both have a molecular formula C4H10, but the
atoms are arranged differently
CH3CH2CH2CH3

butane

CH3CH2CH2CH3

CH3CHCH3
CH3

CH3CHCH3

2-methylpropane

CH3

In butane the C atoms are arranged in a

single chain, but 2-methylpropane is a
shorter chain with a branch

Name

Molecular structure

Boiling point

Butane has a higher boiling point because the dispersion

forces are greater.
The molecules are longer (and so set up bigger temporary
dipoles) and can lie closer together than the shorter, fatter
2-methylpropane molecules.

Cycloalkanes
The boiling points of cycloalkanes are
10oC to 15oC higher than the corresponding
straight chain alkanes.
Cycloalkane
Boiling
alkane
Boiling
point
point
Cyclobutane

13oC

Butane

-0.5oC

Cyclopentane

49oC

Pentane

36.3oC

- Cycloalkane have higher boiling point than

alkane with the same molecular weight or
number of carbon atoms because they are
planar and their shapes are symmetrical
- Thus, the surface area increase, the van
de waals forces become stronger.
- So, higher boiling point.
Cycloalkane > straight chain > branched

alkane

Solubility

Alkanes less dense than water

Alkanes and cycloalkanes are almost

totally insoluble in water
They are non-polar molecule
Unable to form hydrogen bond with
H2O

VIDEO5

 Liquid alkanes and cycloalkanes are

soluble in one another, and they
generally dissolve in non-polar
solvents.
Good solvents for alkanes are benzene,
carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and
other hydrocarbons.

Exercise
The structure of compounds I, II and III are
shown as below.
CH 3 H
CH 3

C
H

C
H
I

CH 3 H

H
CH 3
H

CH 3

CH 3

CH 3CH 2CH 2CH2CH 2CH 33

CH 3

H
II

Arrange them in order of decreasing boiling

point. Explain your answer.

III