Fluid mixtures: contrasts of theoretical and simulation approaches, and comparison with experimental alkane

Ronald P White1, Jane E G Lipson

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA.

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Physical Properties of Alkanes02:33

Physical Properties of Alkanes

Alkanes are nonpolar molecules due to the presence of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The electronegativity difference between carbon and hydrogen is minimal, and hence alkanes have a zero dipole moment. This leads to the presence of only dispersion forces between the molecules. The strength of dispersion forces is dependent on the surface area of the molecules on which they act. Since the surface area increases with the molecular length for straight-chain alkanes, the dispersion forces also...
Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes02:14

Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes

The low reactivity in alkanes can be attributed to the non-polar nature of C–C and C–H σ bonds. Alkanes, therefore, were  initially termed as “paraffins,” derived from the Latin words: parum, meaning “too little,” and affinis, meaning “affinity.”
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified petroleum gas (LPG), fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and...
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties02:56

Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties

Ideal Solutions or Mixtures01:20

Ideal Solutions or Mixtures

From a molecular perspective, an ideal solution is one in which the intermolecular interactions between unlike molecules are, on average, the same as those between like molecules. This is the case for ideal gas mixtures, where the molecules are far apart and do not interact with each other. However, for condensed phases like liquids or solids, the molecules are close together and interact with each other. In an ideal solution, the molecules of different species are so similar to each other that...
Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility02:34

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Intermolecular forces are attractive forces that exist between molecules. They dictate several bulk properties, such as melting points, boiling points, and solubilities (miscibilities) of substances. Molar mass, molecular shape, and polarity affect the strength of different intermolecular forces, which influence the magnitude of physical properties across a family of molecules.
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...
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Organic compounds of the same molecular formula can have different structural formulas called constitutional isomers, and the phenomenon is known as constitutional isomerism. Alkanes with four or more carbons showing multiple structures with the same molecular formula thereby exhibit constitutional isomerism.
The linear isomer of an alkane is prefixed by the term “n”; hence a linear isomer of pentane is known as n-pentane. Based on the type of branching, some of the branched isomers are given...