4.0 Physical Proparties

  Hydrocarbons

Principal intermolecular interactions between alkane molecules are London dispersion interactions. Due to weak forces, the ${C_1}$ to ${C_4}$ alkanes are gases, ${C_5}$to ${C_{17}}$ are liquids, those with more than 18 carbon atoms are solids at 298K. All are colourless and odourless. Alkanes with straight carbon chains have higher boiling points than their isomers with branched chains.