Introduction to Alkanes (Organic Chemistry)
📌 Alkanes are hydrocarbons characterized by the presence of only carbon-carbon single bonds (C-C).
🔗 These compounds are also known as saturated hydrocarbons because all carbon atoms are bonded to the maximum possible number of other atoms.
🧪 The naming convention in organic chemistry depends on the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Carbon Atom Naming Prefixes
🔹 One carbon atom: Meth- (e.g., Methane)
🔹 Two carbon atoms: Eth- (e.g., Ethane)
🔹 Three carbon atoms: Prop- (e.g., Propane)
🔹 Four carbon atoms: But- (e.g., Butane)
🔹 Five carbon atoms: Pent- (e.g., Pentane)
📌 Memorization is emphasized for prefixes up to Pent-.

Alkane Nomenclature and Structure
🔗 The family name (suffix) for alkanes is "-ane".
methane (1 carbon atom) has the formula $\text{CH}_4$ to satisfy carbon's four valence bonds.
ethane (2 carbon atoms) has the structure where the two carbons are single-bonded, resulting in the molecular formula $\text{C}_2\text{H}_6$.
propane (3 carbon atoms) has three carbons linked by single bonds, resulting in the molecular formula $\text{C}_3\text{H}_8$.

General Formula for Alkanes
🔑 The General Formula for all alkanes is $\text{C}_n\text{H}_{2n+2}$, where $n$ is the number of carbon atoms.
🔬 To find the molecular formula for any alkane, substitute the value of $n$ into the formula (e.g., for Pentane, $n=5$, yielding $\text{C}_5\text{H}_{2(5)+2} = \text{C}_5\text{H}_{12}$).
🧪 This formula allows calculation of any alkane's composition, such as Octane ($n=8$), which results in $\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}$.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Alkanes are defined by having only single bonds between carbon atoms, classifying them as saturated hydrocarbons.
➡️ The prefix system (Meth-, Eth-, Prop-, But-, Pent-) is crucial for naming organic compounds based on carbon count.
➡️ Master the general formula $\text{C}_n\text{H}_{2n+2}$ to calculate the molecular formula for any given alkane structure based on $n$.
➡️ Memorize the prefixes for 1 to 5 carbon atoms (Meth to Pent) as foundational knowledge.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 22, 2025, 13:51 UTC