11.2

Alkanes

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)  · Unit 11: Organic chemistry  · 13 flashcards

Alkanes is topic 11.2 in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) syllabus , positioned in Unit 11 — Organic chemistry , alongside Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature, Alkenes and Alcohols.

This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical).

The deck below contains 13 flashcards — 2 key concepts and 11 identification cards — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.

What the Cambridge 0620 syllabus says

2026-2028 syllabus, in our words

What the syllabus expects you to be able to do in this topic, in plain English. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks. For the exact wording, see the official syllabus (PDF).

  1. State State that alkanes are hydrocarbons that are saturated, with only single covalent bonds.
  2. Describe Describe alkanes as mostly unreactive, apart from combustion and substitution reactions with chlorine.
  3. State State that a substitution reaction swaps one atom, or one group of atoms, for another atom or group. Supplement
  4. Describe Describe how chlorine substitutes into an alkane in a photochemical reaction, with UV light supplying the activation energy, Ea, and draw structural or displayed formulae for the products formed, considering monosubstitution only. Supplement
Key Concept Flip

What type of compound is indicated by a chemical name ending in '-ane'?

Answer Flip

The '-ane' suffix indicates the compound is an alkane. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Example: methane (CH₄).
Key Concept Flip

What type of compound is indicated by a chemical name ending in '-ene'?

Answer Flip

The '-ene' suffix indicates the compound is an alkene. Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

Example: ethene (C₂H₄).
Key Concept Flip

What type of compound is indicated by a chemical name ending in '-ol'?

Answer Flip

The '-ol' suffix indicates the compound is an alcohol. Alcohols contain a hydroxyl (-OH) group bonded to a carbon atom.

Example: ethanol (C₂H₅OH).
Key Concept Flip

What type of compound is indicated by a chemical name ending in '-oic acid'?

Answer Flip

The '-oic acid' suffix indicates the compound is a carboxylic acid. Carboxylic acids contain a carboxyl (-COOH) group.

Example: ethanoic acid (CH₃COOH).
Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for But-1-ene.

Answer Flip

The formula for But-1-ene is C₄H₈. It is an alkene with a double bond between the first and second carbon atoms in the chain.

Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for But-2-ene.

Answer Flip

The formula for But-2-ene is C₄H₈. It is an alkene with a double bond between the second and third carbon atoms in the chain.

Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for propan-1-ol.

Answer Flip

The formula for propan-1-ol is C₃H₈O. It is an alcohol with the -OH group attached to the first carbon.

Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for propan-2-ol.

Answer Flip

The formula for propan-2-ol is C₃H₈O. It is an alcohol with the -OH group attached to the second carbon.

Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for butan-1-ol.

Answer Flip

The formula for butan-1-ol is C₄H₁₀O. It is an alcohol with the -OH group attached to the first carbon.

Key Concept Flip

Give the formula for butan-2-ol.

Answer Flip

The formula for butan-2-ol is C₄H₁₀O. It is an alcohol with the -OH group attached to the second carbon.

Key Concept Flip

What two products are formed in complete combustion of alkanes?

Answer Flip

Complete combustion of alkanes produces carbon dioxide and water (CO₂ + H₂O). This occurs when there's a sufficient supply of oxygen.

Key Concept Flip

What conditions are required for halogenation of alkanes?

Answer Flip

Halogenation of alkanes requires photochemical conditions, specifically ultraviolet (UV) light. This energy is needed to break the bond in the halogen molecule (

Example: chlorine) and initiate the reaction by forming free radicals.
Key Concept Flip

Name the product of the reaction between propanoic acid and sodium hydroxide.

Answer Flip

The product is Sodium propanoate. This is a neutralisation reaction, where a carboxylic acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water.

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11.1 Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature 11.3 Alkenes

Tips to avoid common mistakes in Alkanes

More topics in Unit 11 — Organic chemistry

Alkanes sits alongside these Chemistry decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

11.1 Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature

12 flashcards
11.3 Alkenes

12 flashcards
11.4 Alcohols

11 flashcards
11.5 Carboxylic acids

12 flashcards
11.6 Esters

8 flashcards
11.7 Polymers

6 flashcards

Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers

These are the official Cambridge 0620 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.

alkane saturated single bond methane ethane propane butane CnH2n+2 combustion substitution halogenation UV light unreactive fuel

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IGCSE Chemistry high-yield questions

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IGCSE Chemistry 2-week revision plan

Topic-by-topic plan for the 14 days before exams

How to study this Alkanes deck

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