Stage 1: Hydrocarbon Classification:Hydrocarbons are compounds composed solely of hydrogen and carbon. Their classification is determined by their bonding patterns. The primary hydrocarbon categories include:
-
Alkanes: Saturated hydrocarbons characterized by single bonds between carbon atoms (general formula C
nH
2n+2).
-
Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing at least one double bond between carbon atoms (general formula C
nH
2n).
Stage 2: Chemical Formula Analysis:Four given hydrocarbons require examination to determine the outlier. Analysis of their formulas and identification of their types are as follows:
C4H10: This compound is an alkane. Its adherence to the CnH2n+2 formula (with n = 4) confirms it as an alkane, signifying exclusive single carbon-carbon bonds.
C7H14: This compound is an alkene. Its conformity to the CnH2n formula (with n = 7) indicates the presence of at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
C5H12: This compound is an alkane. Its alignment with the CnH2n+2 formula (with n = 5) confirms it as an alkane, characterized by only single carbon-carbon bonds.
C2H6: This compound is an alkane. Its consistency with the CnH2n+2 formula (with n = 2) confirms it as an alkane, featuring exclusively single carbon-carbon bonds.
Stage 3: Identifying the Discrepancy:- Three of the hydrocarbons (C
4H
10, C
5H
12, and C
2H
6) are classified as
alkanes due to their adherence to the C
nH
2n+2 formula, signifying only single bonds between carbon atoms.
- One hydrocarbon (C
7H
14) is identified as an
alkene, conforming to the C
nH
2n formula, which denotes the presence of at least one double bond between carbon atoms.
Stage 4: Conclusion:The hydrocarbon that differs from the others is:
C7H14
This is because it is an alkene, while the remaining compounds are alkanes, distinguished by their sole reliance on single bonds between carbon atoms.