Write the formulas and names of linear alkanes with fewer than ten carbons.
Solution
The first four alkanes are named with the prefixes met- (C 1 ), et- (C 2 ), prop- (C 3 ), but- (C 4 ) ending the name with the suffix -ane .
The other six linear alkanes are named with the Greek prefixes pent- (C 5 ), hex- (C 6 ), hept- (C 7 ), oct- (C 8 ), non- (C 9 ), and dec- (C 10 ) indicating the number of carbons, ending the name with the suffix -ane .
