1. The alkanes form an homologous series of compounds - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 1
1. The alkanes form an homologous series of compounds.
Molecules of alkanes contain carbon and hydrogen only.
(a) Which of these alkanes contains three carbon ato... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:1. The alkanes form an homologous series of compounds - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of these alkanes contains three carbon atoms?
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Answer
The alkane that contains three carbon atoms is propane (D). Alkanes are defined by their carbon chain lengths, and propane, with the formula C₃H₈, corresponds to this criterion.
Step 2
What is the formula of a molecule of pentane?
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Answer
The formula for a molecule of pentane can be derived from the general formula for alkanes, C_nH_{2n + 2}. For pentane, where n = 5, the formula becomes C₅H_{12}. Thus, the correct answer is A, C₅H_{12}.