Cycloalkanes are saturated hydrocarbons in which the carbon atoms are joined in a ring.They have the general formula CnH2n. This is two hydrogen atoms fewer than the open-chain alkane, because the two ends of the chain join together.They are named by adding cyclo- to the alkane name. For example, cyclohexane is C6H12 and is drawn as a hexagon in skeletal form.Cycloalkanes are not in the same homologous series as the alkanes because they have a different general formula. They are functional group isomers of the alkenes, as both have the formula CnH2n.Like other alkanes, they contain only single bonds, so they do not decolourise bromine water.
Cyclic Alkanes
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Specification: AQA Chemistry (7404), AS-level, 3.3.2.1 Fractional distillation of crude oil. Topic: Alkanes.
Key terms in this lesson
- functional group
- An atom or group of atoms responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of a molecule.
More in Alkanes
- General Formula
- Straight Chains
- Branched Chains
- Naming Alkanes
- Structural Isomers
- Physical Properties
- Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil
- Fracking
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