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Chemistry Regents June 2005 - Question 82 |
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Written by The Chemistry Wizard
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Correct Answer:
Methane, ethane, propane, butane
Answering the Question:
The question requires an understanding of saturated hydrocarbons. Firstly, a saturated hydrocarbon is one in which all the available bonds on the carbon are utilized by the different atom. This means there are no double or triple bonds utilized present in saturated hydrocarbons. Secondly the question asks for a hydrocarbon leaving the tower at less than 40C. Based on the above diagram, only hydrocarbons with a carbon count of 1-4 leave the tower at the requested temperature.
According to IUPAC naming convention, the primary name of a compound is based on its longest straight chain (parent chain), the main functional group and any side chain groups present. The easiest of the saturated hydrocarbons to name are the straight chain hydrocarbons, the simplest of which is methane. It contains one carbon atom and is fully saturated by hydrogen.
The IUPAC naming convention for saturated hydrocarbons states that they all have the suffix ane, while the prefix is dependent on the number of carbon atoms present in the molecule. If the molecule has one carbon the prefix is meth, two is eth, three prop and four but. Hence the names of the saturated hydrocarbons with 1-4 carbons are methane, ethane, propane and butane.
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