Hello everyone, today we are going to talk about a chemical substance called pentane, which is a foaming agent used to prepare phenolic foam. It can make phenolic resin produce bubbles when heated, forming a lightweight foam material. Phenolic foam is a common insulation material, widely used in construction, industry, transportation and other fields, with good thermal insulation, sound insulation, fire resistance, corrosion resistance and other properties. So, how does pentane work? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Let’s take a look.

What is pentane?

Pentane is a colorless liquid, with the chemical formula C5H12, belonging to the alkanes class of organic compounds. It has a boiling point of 36°C, a density of 0.63g/mL, and a combustion heat of 44.8MJ/kg. Pentane is a flammable and explosive substance, which will burn or explode when exposed to fire or static electricity. Therefore, safety protection and fire prevention measures should be taken when using and storing it, avoiding contact with fire and static electricity, as well as excessive inhalation and contact.

How does pentane foam?

Pentane is a physical foaming agent, and its foaming principle is to use its volatility and compressibility. When pentane is mixed with phenolic resin, it forms a uniform mixture, in which pentane exists in the resin in a liquid form. When this mixture is heated to a certain temperature, pentane will evaporate rapidly, producing a large amount of gas, which will form countless small bubbles in the resin, thus making the resin expand into foam. At the same time, the resin will undergo cross-linking reaction at high temperature, making the foam structure solidify, forming a stable foam material.

What are the advantages of pentane?

Pentane, as a foaming agent, has the following advantages:

• Lightweight: Pentane has a small density, only half of that of water, so it can reduce the density of phenolic foam, thus reducing the weight of the foam, facilitating transportation and installation.
• Efficient: Pentane has a low boiling point, only 36°C, so it can foam at a lower temperature, thus saving energy and improving production efficiency.
• Clean: Pentane has a strong volatility, it will completely evaporate during the foaming process, and will not remain in the foam, so it will not affect the performance and stability of the foam, nor will it cause pollution to the environment and human body.

What are the disadvantages of pentane?

Pentane, as a foaming agent, also has the following disadvantages:

• Dangerous: Pentane is a flammable and explosive substance, it will burn or explode when exposed to fire or static electricity, so safety protection and fire prevention measures should be taken when using and storing it, avoiding contact with fire and static electricity, as well as excessive inhalation and contact.
• Harmful: Pentane is an organic solvent, it has a certain irritation and toxicity to the human body, long-term or large amount of inhalation or contact can cause dizziness, nausea, difficulty breathing and other symptoms, and may also cause damage to the liver, kidney, nervous system and other organs.

Summary

Pentane is a lightweight and efficient foaming agent, it can make phenolic resin produce bubbles when heated, forming a lightweight foam material. Pentane has its own advantages and disadvantages, and safety and health should be paid attention to when using it. Pentane is a useful chemical substance, worthy of our understanding and utilization. I hope this article can help you better understand pentane, if you have any questions or needs, please feel free to communicate with me. 

Maleic anhydride is an important organic compound that has many applications in various industries, such as making unsaturated polyester resins, lubricant additives, coatings, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. It is a white solid with a pungent odor and a five-membered ring structure with two carbonyl groups and a double bond. It can be produced from different feedstocks, such as benzene, n-butane, or bio-based materials. In this article, we will focus on how to make maleic anhydride from pentane, a hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms.

Why Pentane?

Pentane is a cheap and abundant feedstock that can be obtained from natural gas or crude oil. It has two isomers: n-pentane and cyclopentane. N-pentane is a straight-chain molecule, while cyclopentane is a ring-shaped molecule. Both of them can be used to make maleic anhydride, but they have different advantages and disadvantages.

N-pentane has a higher reactivity than cyclopentane, which means it can convert more easily to maleic anhydride. However, it also has a higher tendency to form unwanted by-products, such as carbon dioxide, acrylic acid, and formic acid. These by-products lower the yield and quality of maleic anhydride and increase the cost of purification.

Cyclopentane has a lower reactivity than n-pentane, which means it needs more severe reaction conditions to convert to maleic anhydride. However, it also has a lower tendency to form unwanted by-products, which means it can produce a higher yield and quality of maleic anhydride and reduce the cost of purification.

Therefore, the choice of pentane isomer depends on the trade-off between reactivity and selectivity. A possible solution is to use a mixture of n-pentane and cyclopentane, which can balance the benefits and drawbacks of both isomers.

How to Make Maleic Anhydride from Pentane?

The process of making maleic anhydride from pentane involves three main steps: oxidation, absorption, and dehydration. The following diagram shows a simplified flow chart of the process:.

Source:
(1) Production of Maleic Anhydride – West Virginia University. https://cbe.statler.wvu.edu/files/d/03317e7d-6211-4b5d-be11-9ed7ee29149b/maleic.pdf.
(2) Progress in Maleic Anhydride Production | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-29454-4_1.
(3) Energy Balances and Numerical Methods Design Project Production of …. https://cbe.statler.wvu.edu/files/d/29b01bbc-b7b6-4578-8985-2464aa23d377/ma-b.pdf.
(4) AP-42, CH 6.14: Maleic Anhydride – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/documents/c06s14.pdf.
(5) Process flow diagram maleic anhydride – Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/9667019/Process_flow_diagram_maleic_anhydride.
(6) A Beginner’s Guide to Writing a Popular Science Article, by a Teacher. https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/a-beginners-guide-to-writing-a-popular-science-article-by-a-teacher/.
(7) 10 Tips: How to Write a Popular Science Article in 2024. https://atonce.com/blog/how-to-write-popular-science-article.
(8) How to write a popular scientific summary – English – Inn. https://www.inn.no/english/research/doctoral-degree/phd-handbook/completion-of-the-programme/trial-lecture-public-defence-of-the-thesis-and-doc/how-to-write-a-popular-scientific-summary/.
(9) How To Write A Science Article For A Newspaper. https://science-atlas.com/faq/how-to-write-a-science-article-for-a-newspaper/.
(10) undefined. http://www-cmrc.sri.com/CIN/JulyAugust96/Article08.html.
(11) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleic_anhydride.

Choosing between n-Pentane, Isopentane and Cyclopenane depends on the intended use. Here are some general differences between them:

• Pentane is a colorless, volatile liquid, mainly used for chemical experiments, solvent and solvent mixture preparation, and also an important raw material in the petroleum industry.
• When buying pentane, you should pay attention to the following aspects:
  • Purity: The higher the purity of pentane, the better its performance and quality, but the higher the price. According to different uses, you can choose different purity grades, such as AR, CP, GCS, GR, HPLC, agricultural residue grade, etc.
  • Packaging: Pentane is a flammable liquid and should be packed and stored in suitable sealed containers to prevent leakage and fire. Generally speaking, the packaging specifications of pentane are 200L steel drums and ISO tank containers.
  • Price: The price of pentane is affected by many factors such as market supply and demand, raw material cost, transportation cost, etc., generally ranging from hundreds of USD to thousands of USD. When buying, you should compare the quotations of different manufacturers and channels, and choose products with high cost performance.
  • Manufacturer: There are many manufacturers of pentane, and there are great differences in production scale, technology level, product quality, etc. You should fully understand the qualifications, reputation, after-sales service, etc. of the manufacturers when buying. You can choose regular, professional and reliable manufacturers through the Internet, industry associations, peer recommendations, etc.

The price of n-Pentane in Chinese market today, CNY/MT, is for reference only, and the final transaction price shall prevail.

General description. Pentane, a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon, is one of the main constituents of light straight-run (LSR) gasoline fraction in crude oils. Its isomerization can improve the octane number of gasoline.

n-Pentane is a volatile, isomeric, organic compound consisting of an alkane with five carbon atoms. Available in various quantities, purities, and reagent grades, it is an evaporable, nonpolar solvent used in liquid chromatography and industrial applications.

However, the name Pentane can sometimes refer to the two branched-form isomers of C5H12, which are methylbutane (isopentane) and dimethylpropane (neopentane). Unsurprisingly, Pentane exhibits similar chemical properties to the neighboring alkanes.

Are you looking for Pentane manufacturers in China? Find where to buy Pentane products from suppliers in China, including: distributors, industrial manufacturers in China, bulk supplies and wholesalers of n-Pentane, Isopentane, Cyclopentane and Pentane Blends. Search for Pentane products or transportation services, visit our website.

Pentane | C5H12 | – structure, chemical names, physical and chemical properties, classification, patents, literature, biological activities, safety/hazards/toxicity information, supplier lists, and more.

Pentane. CH3(CH2)3CH3. Synonyms: . CAS 109-66-0. Molecular Weight 72.15. Browse Pentane and related products at Junyuan Petroleum.

What are the different types of pentane?

Based on type, the market is classified into n-pentane, isopentane, and Cyclopentane. n-Pentane generated the maximum revenue in 2022, and is expected to remain dominant throughout the analysis period, as it is widely used in various personal care and industrial aerosol products as an aerosol propellant.

n-Pentane

Product Name: Cyclopentane, 95%

CAS: 287-92-3

IUPAC Name: cyclopentane

Molecular Formula:C5H10

InChI Key: RGSFGYAAUTVSQA-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES:C1CCCC1

Molecular Weight (g/mol):70.14

Synonym: cyclopentane pentamethylene zyklopentan ciclopentano hsdb 62

Refractive Index: 1.4030-1.4090 @ 20C

Appearance (Color): Clear colorless

Form: Liquid

Assay (GC): ≥95.0%

Identification (FTIR): Conforms

Description

Cyclopentane is the lightest non-polar cycloalkane solvent used by the chemical industry. Its cyclical structure provides a higher solubility coefficient than branched or linear hydrocarbons, while its low molecular weight results in one of the lowest heat of vaporization values a among non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.

Features

• High solubility coefficient

• non polar

• low heat vaporization

Cyclopentane is used as green blowing agent and involved in the production of polyurethane insulating foam, which is used in refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, construction panels, insulated pipes and roofs. As a lubricant, it finds applications in computer hard drives and outer space equipment due to its low volatile nature. It is widely useful in the preparation of resin, adhesives and pharmaceutical intermediate. It is an additive in gasoline. Since it is a halogen free compound and has zero-ozone depletion potential, it replaces the conventionally used chloro fluoro carbon (CFC) in refrigeration and thermal insulation.

Applications

Cyclopentane is used as green blowing agent and involved in the production of polyurethane insulating foam, which is used in refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, construction panels, insulated pipes and roofs. As a lubricant, it finds applications in computer hard drives and outer space equipment due to its low volatile nature. It is widely useful in the preparation of resin, adhesives and pharmaceutical intermediate. It is an additive in gasoline. Since it is a halogen free compound and has zero-ozone depletion potential, it replaces the conventionally used chloro fluoro carbon (CFC) in refrigeration and thermal insulation.

Solubility

Miscible with ethanol, ether and acetone. Slightly miscible with water.

Notes

Avoid heat, direct sunlight, flames and sparks. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

RUO – Research Use Only

Have a question? We’d love to hear from you!

Please email us and we’ll reply with lightning speed.

Should you need a quicker response, feel free to call or WhatsApp us at: +86 178 1030 0898

We’re standing by.

info@junyuanpetroleumgroup.com

Junyuanpetroleumgroup.com

Many manufacturers will be using a new, more environmentally friendly insulation material, called cyclopentane, in the manufacture of select refrigerators and freezers. Cyclopentane is a blowing agent for the polyurethane foams that are used to insulate refrigerators and freezers. Unlike some other chemicals used to insulate refrigerators, cyclopentane does not contain hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). Using cyclopentane results in significant reductions in equivalent CO₂ emissions. The most common foam-blowing agents currently used in the U.S. are R134a and R245fa. These industry-standard insulations can have a global warming potential (GWP) as high as 1300 (134a) and 950 (245a). In contrast, the foam-blowing agent cyclopentane has a GWP of approximately 10. When it comes to GWPs, the lower the number is, the better it is for the environment, so cyclopentane is clearly the more environmentally friendly choice. Cyclopentane increases the efficiency of the insulation foam by approximately 4 percent over the R134a foam currently used in most refrigeration products. Cyclopentane has been very popular as a blowing agent in Europe since the early 1990s, but the cost of retrofitting existing production facilities and the lack of U.S. regulations restricting the use of HFCs has delayed implementation in the U.S. However, there are other manufacturers currently selling refrigerators in the U.S. that use cyclopentane. Compared to other insulating foams, cyclopentane is competitively priced and relatively easy to produce. Like many gases, in its pure form, cyclopentane is a highly evaporative and flammable material. However once foamed, the unit is no more hazardous than a unit foamed with other blowing agents. As with any of our manufacturing processes, we’ve integrated a wide variety of redundant engineering and operational safeguards. To learn more about cyclopentane, click here.

 Common questions about cyclopentane

Q: What is this new material being used in the foam insulation?
A: The new material is called cyclopentane, a highly evaporative gas that is used to apply the foam insulations in refrigeration units. 

Q: What is cyclopentane?
A: Cyclopentane is a blowing agent for the polyurethane foams that are used to insulate refrigerators and freezers. 

Q: What are the benefits of using cyclopentane instead of other materials?
A: From an environmental perspective, unlike some other chemicals used to insulate refrigerators, cyclopentane does not contain hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). Using cyclopentane results in significant reductions in equivalent CO₂ emissions. 

Q: What foam-blowing agents are most commonly used in the U.S.? How is cyclopentane different?
A: The most common foam-blowing agents in the U.S. right now are R134a and R245fa. These two industry-standard insulations can have a global warming potential (GWP) as high as 1300 (134a) and 950 (245a). Comparatively, the foam-blowing agent cyclopentane has a GWP of approximately 10. When it comes to GWPs, the lower the number is, the less adverse impact on the environment, so cyclopentane is clearly a better choice. 

Q: Are there significant insulating advantages, as well?
A: Yes, cyclopentane is approximately 4 percent more efficient than the R134a foam we currently use in most of our products. 

Q: Do other refrigerators available in the U.S. market use cyclopentane?
A: There are other manufacturers currently selling refrigerators in the U.S. that use cyclopentane. 

Q: Why hasn’t cyclopentane caught on in the United States?
A: It has been very popular as a blowing agent in Europe since the early 1990s, but the cost of retrofitting existing production facilities and the lack of U.S. regulations restricting the use of HFC’s has delayed implementation in the U.S. 

Q: Is it more expensive than other insulating materials?
A: It is competitively priced and relatively easy to produce. 

Q: Is it dangerous?
A: Like many gases, in its pure form, cyclopentane is a highly evaporative and flammable material. However once foamed, the unit is no more hazardous than a unit foamed with other blowing agents. As with any of our manufacturing processes, we’ve integrated a wide variety of redundant engineering and operational safeguards.

The difference between EPS fire resistance grades A, B, and B1:

1. Fire resistance coefficient: Class A is non combustible; Level B is further divided into three levels, with B1, B2, and B3 having different levels of combustion.
2. Flammability: Class A has zero flammability;, B1 is flame retardant, B2 is flammable, and B3 is flammable.
   At present, the common A-grade products in the market include phenolic aldehyde, rock wool, insulation mortar, foam ceramics, foam glass, and foam concrete. At present, the most advantageous A-grade material is foamed concrete, also known as foamed cement.
   EPS polystyrene board itself is a flammable material, so it is not a fireproof material in terms of fire rating. So it’s not at all A-level or B1 level. The fire resistance rating of polystyrene boards on the market is only B2 (flammable) and B3 (flammable).
   Extended Information:
   EPS physical and mechanical properties:
3. Density
   The density of EPS is determined by the expansion ratio of polystyrene particles during the forming stage, which is generally between 10 and 45kg/m3. As EPS used in engineering, its apparent density is generally between 15 and 30kg/m3.
   At present, the density of EPS used as lightweight filling material in road engineering is 20kg/m3, which is 1% to 2% of that of ordinary road filling material. Density is an important indicator of EPS, and its mechanical properties are almost directly proportional to its density.
4. Deformation characteristics
   When the confining pressure exceeds 60KPa, the yield strength significantly decreases, which is clearly different from the variation law of the soil. When axial strain ε When a ≤ 5%, regardless of the confining pressure, the volumetric strain ε V is close to axial strain ε a. The lateral deformation of EPS is small, which means the Poisson’s ratio is small.
   To minimize post construction settlement, after laying the EPS material layer, fill 1.2m of soil on it for preloading. The average compressive settlement of the EPS material layer is 32mm, and it can be calculated that the elastic modulus of EPS is 2.4MPa, and the EPS material is still in the elastic deformation stage.
5. Self-reliance
   The self-sustaining nature of EPS is very beneficial for the stability of high slopes. Due to the small lateral pressure generated by the vertical compression of EPS, the use of EPS as filling material for the roadbed at the bridge head can greatly reduce the soil pressure behind the abutment, which is very beneficial for the stability of the abutment.
   The friction coefficient f between EPS block and sand is 0.58 (dense)~0.46 (loose) for dry sand and 0.52 (dense)~0.25 (loose) for wet sand; The range of f between EPS blocks is between 0.6 and 0.7.
6. Water and temperature characteristics
   The closed cavity structure of EPS determines its good insulation performance. Its biggest characteristic when used as insulation material is its extremely low thermal conductivity, with various specifications of EPS boards having thermal conductivity ranging from 0.024W/m.K to 0.041W/m.K. EPS is a thermoplastic resin that should be used below 70 ℃ to avoid thermal deformation and strength reduction.
   Simultaneously utilizing this feature, electric heating wire processing can be used. Flame retardants can be added in production to form flame retardant EPS. Flame retardant EPS extinguishes itself within 3 seconds after leaving the ignition source. Due to the much lower bulk density of EPS compared to soil, the 1% to 10% increase in bulk density caused by water absorption can have negligible impact on engineering.
7. Durability
   EPS has stable chemical properties in water and soil, and cannot be decomposed by microorganisms; The cavity structure of EPS also makes water infiltration extremely slow; If exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a long time, the surface of EPS will change from white to yellow, and the material will appear brittle to some extent; EPS has stable properties in most solvents, but can be dissolved in organic solvents such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, toluene, acetone, etc. This indicates that EPS fillers require a good protective layer.
   
   Reference Source: JUNYUAN PETROLEUM GROUP – EPS Blowing Agent Department (Folystyrene Foam)

Expandable polystyrene (EPS)

Revolutionary patented polystyrene production method

Expandable polystyrene (EPS) consists of polystyrene micro-pellets or beads containing a blowing agent and other additives for foaming. We have developed a continuous production process in which the blowing agent is directly injected into the melt, combined with subsequent underwater pelletization.

Commercial EPS is manufactured with the addition of a blowing agent, typically a chlorinated hydrocarbon or a low-boiling petroleum-derived agent with the presence of pentane. These substances are highly flammable; by reducing the amount of flame retardant due to the addition of gypsum, they ignited during the flame propagation test, increasing the burn rate of the GPS.

Main benefits

• The patented EPS process is economical, compact, and easy to operate
• Continuous process for consistent product quality
• Dispersing a wide range of additives and pigments is possible
• Minimized waste production
• Reduction of wastewater and process water
• Recycling possibility for waste EPS pellets/beads/foam
• Process allows developing innovative applications

Main applications

• Expandable Polystyrene

EPS Panel

The self-extinguishing, fire-retardant EPS Panel foam is manufactured from 100% virgin bead and oven-cured after manufacture to ensure the resulting blocks are completely dry and free from all residual pentane.

EPS Panel is a lightweight, CFC-free, non-brittle, closed cell insulator with more consistent thermal performance over time. It has a high dimensional stability and low water vapor transmission.

A special chemical coated to the Expanded Polystyrene beads (raw material) distinguished it from standard/common EPS Panel. Fire-Retardant EPS Panel is a self-extinguishing, non-combustible material.

Fire-retardant EPS Panel with a density of 15 kg/m3 is used for clean rooms, food processing facilities and modular buildings, while the 20 kg/m3 is used for industrial and commercial cold storage.

Core

Width (cover mm)
Thickness (mm)
Length
Exterior Facing Skin
Internal Facing Skin
Standard Colors
Joint System
Finishes
Type of SkinEPS
(Expanded Polystyrene)
1,160
50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250
Up to 12 meters
0.5mm, 0.6mm G300 CRP Steel
0.5mm, 0.6mm G300 CRP Steel
Off White
Slip Joint
Plain, Ribbed, Diamond
Anti Bacterial (AB)
Food Grade (FG)
Xterior Roof and Wall (XRW)

Features and Advantages

• Fire retardant
• Meets safety requirements
• Energy saving
• Longer lifetime
• Resistant to termites and rodents
• Customized design
• Easy to install saving cost of installation time
• High performance on insulated panel

The Oigin of Cyclopentane
A colorless, water-insoluble liquid, C5H10, obtained from petroleum and used chiefly as a solvent. Cyclopentane is a flammable liquid and its vapors can be explosive. Cyclopentane has a bond angle of about 108°C. This minimal ring strain for cyclopentane makes it a more stable compound.

Cyclopentane is in the class of cycloalkanes, being alkanes that have one or more carbon rings. It is formed by cracking cyclohexane in the presence of alumina at a high temperature and pressure.

Cyclopentane is a twisted ring in the form of an “envelope” so that one of the carbon atoms is out of the plane of the ring.

Cyclopentane is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) chemical (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S.

Cyclopentane is formed from pentane and is an alicyclic hydrocarbon compound that falls in the category of an alkane.

Cyclopentane is treated with chlorine in the presence of light or heat to form chloro cyclopentane which then reacts with KOC(CH3)3 forming cyclopentene. Cyclopentane has a bond angle of about 108o. This minimal ring strain for cyclopentane makes it a more stable compound. Besides, this compound occurs as a colourless liquid, and it is flammable. Moreover, it has a petrol-like odour. Cyclopentane is a simple hydrocarbon. If 0.0956 g of the compound is combusted in oxygen, 0.300 g of carbon dioxide and 0.123 g of water are produced.

Boiling point: 49 °C
Melting point: −94 °C
Molecular formula: C5H10
Other names: pentamethylene

Cyclopentane makes important contribution to energy efficiency. Junyuan Petroleum Group is a leading manufacturer of Pentanes in China.

Top 5 Uses of Pentane

Pentane is a cost-effective liquid that has several different industrial and laboratory applications.

1. Laboratory Solvents

They are the most volatile liquid alkanes (at room temperature). Because of this, they are commonly used in laboratories as solvents. Although, due to their lack of functionality and non-polarity, they only dissolve other nonpolar and alkyl-rich compounds. Pentanes are miscible with other solvents like ethers, aromatics, and chlorocarbons.

2. Chromatography

Pentane is commonly used in chromatography – which is a laboratory technique to separate components in a mixture. The mixture is passed in a suspension or solution through a medium where the components each move at different rates.

3. Blowing Agent

Pentane is used as the primary blowing agent in the production of foams like polystyrene. A blowing agent is a substance that is capable of producing a cellular structure through a foaming process. These foams are often used as insulating material in refrigerators and heating pipes

4. Binary Fluid

Because of its low boiling point, pentane is used in geothermal power stations as a binary fluid.

5. Industrial Ingredient Uses

Due to its ready availability and low cost, pentane is also used as a solvent in many common products like pesticides. It can also be used in making other chemicals, plastics, and low-grade thermometers. Acid-catalyzed isomerization can produce isopentane, which can be used in making fuels.

In 1993, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) issued its final nomenclature for organic compounds. Nomenclature (Nomenclature), as the name suggests, is the method of naming compounds. If we want to give each organic compound a name, we obviously cannot write all possible organic compounds and their names into a table. So we need to write a few very concise rules to help us quickly name even a compound that has never been seen before.

Naming structure The naming structure of organic compounds can be basically split into prefix (Prefix) and suffix (Suffix). The prefix generally indicates how many carbon atoms are in the compound. The suffix represents which functional groups (Functional Group) are contained in the compound. In other words, the suffix represents which organic compound this organic compound belongs to, such as alkanes (Alkane), alkenes (Alkene), alcohols (Alcohol) and so on. There is nothing to say about the prefix. It is purely a one-to-one table: 1 Carbon: Meth- 2 Carbons: Eth- 3 Carbons: Prop- 4 Carbons: But- 5 Carbons: Pent- 6 Carbons: Hex- 7 Carbons: Hept- 8 Carbons: Oct- 9 Carbons: Non- 10 Carbons: Dec- 11 Carbons: Undec- 12 Carbons: Dodec- … In IGCSE chemistry, we rarely see names above 7 Carbons. So everything from Meth- to Hex- must be memorized. No way, just memorize it by rote. The prefixes are only associated with carbon atoms, so you don’t need to count hydrogen atoms. You see several carbon atoms, and its prefix is the corresponding prefix. Let’s take an example.

Now that the prefixes are finished, let’s talk about suffixes. If there are only Carbon-Carbon single bond and Carbon-Hydrogen single bond in a compound, then it belongs to alkane (Alkane). Let’s take a look at the name Alkane. It can be split into Alk- prefix and -ane suffix. The Alk- prefix represents a comprehensive compound category. It does not specify the length, but it is just a placeholder. So of course, -ane is the common suffix of this kind of compound.

We still see our three previous examples. Take a closer look, in each compound, each atom is connected with a single bond (a horizontal line), so we can say that all three of them belong to Alkane, and their suffixes are all -ane. So we have a prefix, and we have a suffix, and we can name it. The first compound has the prefix Meth- and the suffix -ane, so the full name is Methane. The second compound has the prefix But- and the suffix -ane, so the full name is Butane. The third compound has a prefix of Pent- and a suffix of -ane, so its full name is Pentane. simple right?