How can you distinguish between alkanes, alkenes and alkynes?

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-11T03:02:52

Alkanes have single bonds between carbons in a hydrocarbon. Alkenes have double bonds between carbons.
Alkynes have triple bonds between carbons.

Alkanes have single bonds between carbons in a hydrocarbon. A quick way to recognize an alkane is the general formula: #"C"_ n"H"_(2n+2)#.

Examples:

methane, #"CH"_4#

ethane, #"C"_2"H"_6#

propane, #"C"_3"H"_8#

butane, #"C"_4"H"_10#

Alkenes have double bonds between carbons. A quick way to recognize an alkene is its general formula: #"C"_ n"H"_(2n)# .

Examples:

ethene, #"C"_2"H"_4#

propene, #"C"_3"H"_6#

butene, #"C"_4"H"_8#

And alkynes have triple bonds between carbons. A quick way to recognize an alkynes is its general formula: #"C"_ n"H"_(2n-2)#.

Examples:

ethyne, #"C"_2"H"_2#

propyne, #"C"_3"H"_4#

butyne, #"C"_4"H"_6#