Question

what is the difference between an alkane and an alkyl group?

Answer 1

alkane is general formula is = CnH2n+2

alkyl general formula is = CnH2n+1 .

Alkanes :

Alkanes are carbon "chains" held together only by single bonds. methane, ethane, propane.

example - methane or ethane, propane, and so on - are considered simple alkanes because they consist of only

carbon with only single bonds and hydrogen. Alkanes are a type of molecule, while alkyl groups are not.

Alkyl groups :

Alkyl groups are functional groups that make up a molecule; they're similar to alkanes, but are never considered to be entire molecules.

ethane (C2H6), which is an alkane and an ethyl group (C2H5R) which is like ethane,

but it is missing a hydrogen because one of the carbons must also be bonded to what we call

R - the "rest of the molecule".

methane = CH4 , methyl = - CH3

ethane = C2H5 , ethyl = - C2H5