Alkanes

Lab Brief #2

🎯 Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with only single carbon-carbon bonds, formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂. Methane, ethane, propane and butane are the first four. They are relatively unreactive but burn well, which is what makes them fuels.

Key words

alkane
A saturated hydrocarbon with only single carbon-carbon bonds, CₙH₂ₙ₊₂.
saturated
Containing no carbon-carbon double bonds.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

molecular model kit
paper
pens

⚠️ Safety first

Model kit parts are small — keep away from young children.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "alkane" and "saturated" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Build the first four alkanes with a model kit and write each molecular and displayed formula. Verify the CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ rule for each, then predict and build the formula for hexane.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

The general formula for alkanes is:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

Propane contains how many carbon atoms?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Alkenes and the Bromine Water Test All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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