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What is the difference between hexanes and cyclohexanes?

Answer 1

Hexanes are aliphatic, a straight (or branched) chain; cyclohexane is alicyclic, it features a carbocyclic ring.

The general formula of hexanes is #C_6H_14#, the carbon chain is saturated (i.e. its formula is #C_6H_14#; #C_nH_(2n+2)#). Cyclohexane has a formula of #C_6H_12#, 2 less hydrogens than the saturated formula, and thus has #1^@# of unsaturation.

Of course the extra #C-C# bond in cyclohexane (which must be present to effect ring closure) has reduced the hydrogen count of the molecule.

The fact that these are distinct molecules with unique chemical and physical characteristics should go without saying (then why am I saying it!). Cyclohexanes have an exceptionally high melting point, most likely due to the rings' ability to efficiently pack together in the solid state.

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Answer 2

Easton Jones

Hexanes are straight-chain alkanes with the molecular formula C6H14, while cyclohexanes are cyclic alkanes with the same molecular formula. The primary difference lies in their structures: hexanes have an open, linear structure, whereas cyclohexanes form a closed, ring structure.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.