Chapter 15 - Lecture 4 – Homologous Series of Alkanes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Figure	Source of Figure
Figure Table 3a	http://www.reddit.com
Figure Table 3b	http://fr.academic.ru/
Figure Table 3c	http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Figure Table 3d	http://pharamcytimes.com/

Homologous Series:

Homologous Series is defined as a series of compounds with the SAME general formula. Compounds of the same Homologous Series have:

1. Similar chemical properties like;
• Combustion
• Addition
• Substitution
2. Gradual change in physical properties
• Melting and boiling point increases as the molecule increases in size
• Viscosity

Homologous Series of Alkanes:

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. They form a homologous series of covalent bonded molecules with the general formula C_nH_2n+2. That is, each successive member of the series differ by CH₂.

Physical Properties of Alkanes:

Table 3:

Referring to Table 3, it is easy to deduce the following conclusions:

1. Melting and boiling point, increases with increase in molecular size.
2. Density increases with increase in molecular size.
3. Viscosity increases with increase in molecular size.

                                                                                       ©Tanzeela Zafar Siddiqui