Alkane

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alkane

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the key reactions?Combustion, free radical halogenation, cracking, and isomerization
2. What are alkanes?Alkanes are simple molecules made of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by single bonds. They follow the formula CnH2n+2 and are the most basic type of organic compound. They are very stable and not very reactive.
3. Why do we use alkanes as fuel?When alkanes burn with oxygen, they release a lot of energy as heat and light. This energy powers cars, generates electricity, and heats homes. Because they are stable, they are safe to store and transport.

Saturated Hydrocarbon: A hydrocarbon in which all carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds, meaning carbon atoms are bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.
Isomerism: The phenomenon where molecules with the same chemical formula have different structural arrangements, leading to different properties.
Petrochemical Feedstock: Raw materials derived from petroleum or natural gas used to produce a wide range of chemicals and materials.