Hydrocarbons are made from Carbon atoms and Hydrogen atoms only and there are two families of hydrocarbons - Alkanes and Alkenes.
The prefix for the alkane/alkene depends on how many Carbon atoms are involved in the molecule.
If there is 1 Carbon atom, the prefix would be meth- , such as methane. Of course this is not possible with alkenes as an alkene must have a double bond between two Carbon atoms and Meth-[ene] would only have 1 Carbon atoms and so it cannot exist.
2 Carbon atoms - eth-
3 Carbon atoms - prop-
4 Carbon atoms - but-
5 Carbon atoms - pent-
6 Carbon atoms - hex-
7 Carbon atoms - hep-
8 Carbon atoms - oct-
9 Carbon atoms - non-
10 Carbon atoms - dec-
If there is 1 Carbon atom, the prefix would be meth- , such as methane. Of course this is not possible with alkenes as an alkene must have a double bond between two Carbon atoms and Meth-[ene] would only have 1 Carbon atoms and so it cannot exist.
2 Carbon atoms - eth-
3 Carbon atoms - prop-
4 Carbon atoms - but-
5 Carbon atoms - pent-
6 Carbon atoms - hex-
7 Carbon atoms - hep-
8 Carbon atoms - oct-
9 Carbon atoms - non-
10 Carbon atoms - dec-
Polymerisation:
It is possible to make a polymer out of an alkene through 'addition polymerisation'.
Through this process, the double bond is broken and 2 half bonds are left open to attatch themselves to another monomer which has also got 2 half bonds open.
It is possible to make a polymer out of an alkene through 'addition polymerisation'.
Through this process, the double bond is broken and 2 half bonds are left open to attatch themselves to another monomer which has also got 2 half bonds open.
