Alkane Density (g cm-3) T (K) Number of

b
carbon atoms
methane 0.466 109.1 1
ethane 0.572 184.5 2
propane 0.585 231.0 3
2-methylpropane 0.557 261.4
butane 0.601 272.6 4
2,2-dimethylpropane 0.591 282.6
2-methylbutane 0.620 301.0
pentane 0.626 309.2 5
2-methylpentane 0.653 333.4
hexane 0.660 342.1 6
2-methylhexane 0.679 363.1
heptane 0.684 371.5 7
2-methylheptane 0.698 390.7
octane 0.703 398.8 8
nonane 0.718 423.9 9
decane 0.730 447.2 10
undecane 0.740 469.1 11
dodecane 0.749 489.4 12
hexadecane 0.775 560.1 16
eicosane 0.789 616.9 20

2.plot a graph : temperature // no. of atoms and density //no. of atoms

3. How does the size of alkane molecule affect the density and the boiling point
The higher the number of carbons, the higher the boiling point
C1 - C4 are gases
C5 to C17 are liquids
Above C17 they are solids (at room temperature)
The relationship is linear, each extra carbon adds 20-23 degrees to the boiling point.
Similarly, the density increases as the number of carbons goes up.

4. How does the shape of the alkane molecule affect these physical properties? Consider in turn:

straight chain alkanes;

single branch alkanes;
double branch alkanes.

The shape of the alkane has to do with how neatly the alkane molecules pack together; this in turn
has to do with the boiling point and melting point of the substance in question. Molecules that pack together more
neatly are more strongly attracted to one another and tend to have higher boiling/melting points, while molecules
that do not pack together well tend to have lower boiling/melting points.

Thus, straight chain alkanes will tend have higher Boiling Point and Melting Point temperatures of the same
molecular weight; the more branches there are, the lower the Boiling Point and Melting Point are for molecules of
the same molecular weight.