Question:medium

Which of the following alkanes is used for road surfacing?

Show Hint

Alkanes with a carbon chain length of 20-30 atoms are ideal for applications requiring durability, such as road surfacing.
Updated On: Jun 30, 2026
  • Alkanes with less than 10 C atoms
  • Alkanes having 20 C to 25 C atoms
  • Alkanes having 25 C to 30 C atoms
  • Alkanes having more than 35 C atoms
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We need to identify the fraction of petroleum (heavy alkanes) used in road construction.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The heaviest non-volatile residue obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil is asphalt (bitumen).
This residue contains very large hydrocarbon molecules, specifically alkanes with more than 35 carbon atoms (\(>\text{C}_{35} \)).
Because of their high viscosity and adhesive properties, these heavy alkanes are ideal for road surfacing.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Alkanes having more than 35 carbon atoms are used for road surfacing.
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