Why branched alkanes are more stable

Branched alkane hydrocarbons are thermodynamically more stable than straight-chain linear alkanes. Because the 3rd and 4th carbons are more energetically stable. That's not gonna cut it by any means. Electrostatic effects, combined with correlation energy, explains why branched alkanes are more stable than linear alkanes. The combustion of methane is shown: When you register on this website, please ensure you view our terms and conditions.

Alkanes are stable molecules relative to their constituent elements, which is manifested as a negative heat of formation. You can't be more precise than that because each isomer has a different melting and boiling point. There have been many explanations for this "branching effect" that differentiates the n-alkanes from their iso and neo counterparts.

For any group of isomeric alkanes, the most branched isomer has the lowest boiling point. This will be very important when and if you take organic chemistry where carbocations and substitution will be introduced. The order of boiling point of the isomeric C 5 H 12 compounds illustrates this phenomenon. The branching, it seems, means that the electronic structure is simply more compact and this decreases molecular surface area per atom and so leads to a lowering of energy and a concomitant increase in stability.

Once again, into the breach… Ess, Liu, and De Proft offer another analysis of the protobranching effect. For example, pentane has three possible isomers in which one is a linear straight-chain alkane and two are branched alkanes. A branched alkane is more compact and has a smaller surface area than a normal alkane. Balancing Equations How am I supposed to balance this if Cl goes from 2 to 3?

Still have questions? There have been many explanations for this "branching effect" that differentiates the n-alkanes from their isoand neocounterparts. The team carried out the necessary geometry optimizations and harmonic frequency computations using the Gaussian program, they calculated molecular surface area using Chimera and harmonic frequencies in GAMESS. Alkanes can be burned in the presence of oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy; in situations with limited oxygen, the products are carbon monoxide, water, and energy.

Longer chain alkanes are typically more stable relatively, based on the number of carbons compared with a shorter chain alkane. The cycloalkanes too show very high boiling points. All comments are subject to moderation.

If you would like to reuse any content , in print or online, from ChemistryViews. Magazine of published by Wiley-VCH. Question : Why branched alkanes are more stable than linear alkanes? Related Answer. Explain why A branched chain alkane possesses lower boiling point than the corresponding straight ch Why are alkenes more reactive than alkanes?

Why alkenes are more reactive than alkanes? Why alkynes are more acidic than alkenes and alkanes? Why alknenes are more reactive than alkanes. The boiling points of branched chain alkanes are lower than their normal chains. Hydrocarbons alkanes are more stable and less functional than silane. Make it clear.

How are branched alkanes formed from normal alkanes? Explain the reasons for the following Alkyl halides are more functional than alkanes.