The Saturated or Paraffin Hydrocarbons. Alkanes

Publisher Summary The paraffins or alkanes are saturated compounds of carbon and hydrogen possessing an open chain structure and having the general formula C n H 2n+2 . They are the parent substances from which all aliphatic compounds can be derived. Saturated hydrocarbons ranging from methane to about C 70 H 142 are found in crude oil (petroleum), which is widely distributed over the earth's crust. Paraffin hydrocarbons may be prepared by the hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, reduction of alkyl halides, reduction of aldehydes and ketones, reduction of acids and alcohols, Wurtz coupling reactions, by using organometallic compounds, and the Kolbe synthesis. Physical properties of the paraffin,, such as boiling points, melting points, crystal structure and bond lengths, parachor, and viscosity are also analyzed in this chapter. The various chemical properties of the paraffin are characterized by typical reactions that include: thermal reactions, alkylation, oxidation, halogenation, nitration, and formation of molecular complexes. Other reactions include those with inorganic reagents, such as sulfur, sulfuric acid, phosphorus, ammonia, cyanogens, and carbon monoxide. Technical production of paraffin hydrocarbons from natural sources, from conversion operations in petroleum refining, and Fischer–Tropsch process is described, and a few individual members of the paraffin series are also profiled in this chapter.