What is the difference between alkanes and cycloalkanes. And basically what does cyclo mean
Cyclo means that it will basically have this ring structure. Slightly hard to explain in words, but these molecules are not the usual chain shaped linear (or branched) alkanes. Each carbon will be bonded to another carbon so it’ll form a ring shape. It can have branches but the cyclo part is referring to this ring shape. Hope I’ve managed to explain it well enough - if not google image cyclohexane for example and have a look!
Cyclo means that it will basically have this ring structure. Slightly hard to explain in words, but these molecules are not the usual chain shaped linear (or branched) alkanes. Each carbon will be bonded to another carbon so it’ll form a ring shape. It can have branches but the cyclo part is referring to this ring shape. Hope I’ve managed to explain it well enough - if not google image cyclohexane for example and have a look!