Alkanes, Alkenes, and Alkynes

Introduction:
Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are all types of hydrocarbons, which are compounds composed of only carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. The main difference between these three types of hydrocarbons lies in their chemical structure and the nature of their carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds.

Alkanes:
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning that they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. They have the general formula CnH2n+2, where n represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Alkanes are the simplest and most abundant class of hydrocarbons.

Alkenes:
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C). The general formula for alkenes is CnH2n, where n represents the number of carbon atoms. Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of the double bond, which allows for the addition of other atoms or groups to the molecule.

Alkynes:
Alkynes are also unsaturated hydrocarbons, but they contain at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C≡C). The general formula for alkynes is CnH2n-2, where n represents the number of carbon atoms. Alkynes are the most reactive among the three types of hydrocarbons due to the presence of the triple bond.

Identification:
Let's identify the alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes from the given compounds:

1. C2H2:
- This compound has 2 carbon atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms.
- The ratio between carbon and hydrogen is 1:1, indicating a possible triple bond.
- Therefore, C2H2 is an alkyne.

2. CH4:
- This compound has 1 carbon atom and 4 hydrogen atoms.
- The ratio between carbon and hydrogen is 1:4, indicating single bonds.
- Therefore, CH4 is an alkane.

3. C3H4:
- This compound has 3 carbon atoms and 4 hydrogen atoms.
- The ratio between carbon and hydrogen is 3:4, indicating a possible double bond.
- Therefore, C3H4 is an alkene.

4. C4H10:
- This compound has 4 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms.
- The ratio between carbon and hydrogen is 4:10, indicating single bonds.
- Therefore, C4H10 is an alkane.

5. C2H6:
- This compound has 2 carbon atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms.
- The ratio between carbon and hydrogen is 2:6, indicating single bonds.
- Therefore, C2H6 is an alkane.

Summary:
In summary, from the given compounds, C2H2 is an alkyne, CH4 and C4H10 are alkanes, and C3H4 and C2H6 are alkenes. By analyzing the ratio of carbon to hydrogen and considering the presence of double or triple bonds, we can determine the classification of hydrocarbons as al