Alkanes

N-Hexane
N-hexane is an organic compound, a straight-chain alkane with six carbon atoms.
Hexane is a colorless liquid, odorless when pure, and with a boiling point of approximately 69 °C (156 °F). It is widely used as a cheap, relatively safe, largely unreactive, and easily evaporated non-polar solvent, and modern gasoline blends contain about 3% hexane.

N-Heptane
Heptane or n-heptane is the straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula H3C(CH2)5CH3 or C7H16.
Heptane and its many isomers are widely used in laboratories as a non-polar solvent. As a liquid, it is ideal for transport and storage. In the grease spot test, heptane is used to dissolve an oil spot to show the previous presence of organic compounds on a stained paper.

Epichlorohydrin
Epichlorohydrin (abbreviated ECH) is an organochlorine compound and an epoxide. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent, garlic-like odor, moderately soluble in water, but miscible with most polar organic solvents.It is a chiral molecule generally existing as a racemic mixture of right-handed and left-handed enantiomers.

Cyclohexane
Cyclohexane is a cycloalkane with the molecular formula C6H12. Cyclohexane is a colourless, flammable liquid with a distinctive detergent-like odor, reminiscent of cleaning products (in which it is sometimes used). Cyclohexane is mainly used for the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam, which are precursors to nylon.

CnH2n+2 is the general formula for alkanes. An alkane containing 2 (n) carbon atoms, for example, will have 6 (2n + 2) hydrogen atoms. Sigma bonds unite their neighbouring atoms, forming tetrahedral centres surrounding the carbon atoms. Because these are all single bonds, all connections are free to rotate. Each hydrogen atom is connected to a carbon atom by four bonds (either C-H or C-C bonds) (H-C bonds).
Alkanes, commonly known as paraffin, are a kind of hydrocarbon that is entirely hydrogen-saturated. They have a carbon to hydrogen which is connected covalently since they have no double or triple bonds in their carbon skeletons. Alkenes and alkynes, on the other hand, have double and triple bonds and are classified as unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Preparation of Alkanes from Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkynes) react with H2 in the presence of finely divided catalysts such as platinum, palladium or nickel to form alkanes. This process is called hydrogenation.

Preparation of Alkanes from Alkyl Halides
The following methods are used to prepare alkanes from alkyl halides (R−X) :
● Alkyl halides (except alkyl fluorides) on reduction with zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid produce alkanes.

● Haloalkanes (Alkyl halides) react with metallic sodium in dry ether to form symmetrical alkanes with double the number of carbon atoms present in the alkyl halide. This reaction is known as Wurtz reaction. Limitations of Wurtz reaction are discussed in reactions of haloalkanes.

Preparation of Alkanes from Carboxylic Acids

● Decarboxylation : Sodium salts of carboxylic acids (RCOONa) on heating with soda lime (NaOH + CaO) form alkanes containing one carbon atom less than the salt.

● Kolbe's electrolytic method : A concentrated aqueous solution of sodium or potassium salt of carboxylic acid on electrolysis forms alkane containing even number of carbon atoms at the anode.

The reaction is supposed to occur through the following ways :

 ii) At anode:

iii) At cathode: