Physical

Properties
of Alkanes
 Alkanes

not very reactive

-

-have little biological

activity
-colorless and
odorless.
 Boiling Point
The boiling points shown are for the "straight chain"
isomersof which thereis more than one.
 Solubility

Alkanes are virtually insoluble in

water, but dissolve in organic
solvents. However, liquid alkanes are
good solvents for many other non-
ionic organic compounds.
 Physical
Properties
of Cycloalkanes
 Cycloalkanes
The physical properties of cycloalkanes are
similar to those of alkanes, but they have
higher boiling points, melting points and
higher densities
non polar and do not have intermolecular
hydrogen bonding
they are usually hydrophobic (meaning they
do notdissolve in water) and are less dense
than water
Cycloalkanes are used in motor fuel, natural
gas, petroleum gas, kerosene, diesel, and
many other heavy oils.
 Tab.1Physical properties of selected
cycloalkanes

Alkyl
Formula Name Mp [ C ] Bp [ C ]
fragment
C3H6 Cyclopropane 127.6 -32.7 Cyclopropyl-
C4H8 Cyclobutane -50.0 -12.5 Cyclobutyl-
C5H10 Cyclopentane -93.9 49.3 Cyclopentyl-
C6H12 Cyclohexane 6.6 80.7 Cyclohexyl-
C7H14 Cycloheptane -12.0 118.5 Cycloheptyl-
C8H16 Cyclooctane 14.3 150.0 Cyclooctyl-
 Physical
Properties
of Alkenes
 Alkenes
At room temperatue, alkenes exist in
all three phases, solid, liquids, and
gases
Melting and boiling points of alkenes
are similar to that of alkanes,
however, isomers of cis alkenes have
lower melting points than that of
trans isomers
Physical state
Ethene, Propene, and Butene exists as
colorless gases. Members of the 5 or more
carbons such as Pentene, Hexene, and
Heptene are liquid, and members of the 15
carbons or more are solids.
Density
Alkenes are lighter than water and are
insoluble in water due to their non-polar
characteristics. Alkenes are only soluble in
nonpolar solvents.
Solubility
Alkenes are virtually insoluble in water, but
dissolve in organic solvents. The reasons for
this are exactly the same as for the alkanes .
 Boiling Points
Boiling points of alkenes depends on more
molecular mass (chain length) . The more
intermolecular mass is added, the higher the
boiling point.
Compound Boiling
points (oC)
Ethene
-104
Propene
-47
Trans-2-Butene 0.9
Cis-2-butene 3.7
Trans 1,2-dichlorobutene 155
Cis 1,2-dichlorobutene 152
1-Pentene 30
Trans-2-Pentene
36
Cis-2-Pentene 37
1-Heptene 115
3-Octene
122
 Melting Points
Alkenes have similar melting points to that of alkanes, owever, in cis
isomers molecules are package in a U-bending shape, therefore, will
display a lower melting points to that of the trans isomers

Compound Melting Points (0C)

Ethene -169
Propene -185
Butene -138
1-Pentene -165
Trans-2-Pentene -135
Cis-2-Pentene -180
1-Heptene -119
3-Octene -101.9
3-Nonene -81.4
5-Decene -66.3
 Physical
Properties
of Alkynes
 Alkynes
Physical Properties include nonpolar
due to slight solubility in polar
solvents and insoluble in water. This
solubility in water and polar solvents
is a characteristic feature to alkenes
as well.
Alkynes dissolve in organic solvents.
Boiling Points
Compared to alkanes and alkenes, alkynes have a
slightly higher boiling point. Ethane has a boiling
point of -88.6 ?C, while Ethene is -103.7 ?C and
Ethyne has a higher boiling point of -84.0 ?C.
Acidity
The acidity of terminal alkynes compared to
alkenes and alkanes are stronger. Compared
with Ethane which has a pKa of 62 (least acidic)
and Ethene of a pKa of 45, Ethyne has a pKa of
26. With alkynes having the sp hybridization, this
makes it the most acidic hydrocarbon. Therefore
terminal alkynes must be deprotonated by
stronger bases. The importance of the s orbital
being attracted to the nucleus contributes to the
electronegativity
 Physical
Properties
of Aromatic
Hydrocarbons