Cracking the SAT Chemistry Subject Test

Alkanes are hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds. They are also known
as saturated hydrocarbons because each carbon atom is bonded to as many
other atoms as possible.

Alkane  (CnH2n  +   2)  Formula

Methane CH 4

Ethane  C 2 H 6

Propane C 3 H 8

Butane  C 4 H 10

Pentane C 5 H 12

The prefixes (meth-, eth-, prop-, etc.) indicate the number of carbons in the
hydrocarbon chain.

Prefixes

Prefixes    indicate    the number  of  carbon  atoms   in  the longest chain   of  a

hydrocarbon as  follows: