An unsolved challenge in catalysis is the efficient and selective functionalization of simple alkanes and plentiful hydrocarbon feedstocks. One promising approach since the late 1990’s is the use of ...

Bromine water is an orange solution of bromine. It becomes colourless when it is shaken with an alkene. Alkenes can decolourise bromine water, but alkanes cannot. The slideshow shows this process.

Another exciting development in this field is the use of microcrystal electron diffraction (microED) to characterize robust cationic σ-alkane complexes. This method allows researchers to obtain ...

The general formula of the alkanes is \({C_n}{H_{2n + 2}}\). They are insoluble in water. The names, molecular formula and the structural formula of the first eight alkanes must be learned.