The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2, where n represents the number of carbon atoms. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they have single bonds between carbon atoms and are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms. The general formula for cycloalkanes is CnH2n, where n represents the number of carbon atoms. Cycloalkanes are also saturated hydrocarbons, but they have a ring structure, which means that two hydrogen atoms are lost to form the ring.Physical properties of alkanes and cycloalkanes differ mainly due to their structural differences. Alkanes are generally less dense than water, have low melting and boiling points, and are relatively nonpolar. Their boiling points increase with increasing molecular weight. Cycloalkanes, on the other hand, have higher boiling points compared to their corresponding linear alkanes due to the ring structure, which increases the van der Waals forces between the molecules.Let's compare two examples: hexane an alkane and cyclohexane a cycloalkane .Hexane C6H14 has a boiling point of 69C 156.2F . Its structure is linear, with six carbon atoms in a row and 14 hydrogen atoms surrounding them.Cyclohexane C6H12 has a boiling point of 80.7C 177.3F . Its structure is a six-membered ring with 12 hydrogen atoms surrounding the ring.In this case, cyclohexane has a higher boiling point than hexane due to the increased van der Waals forces resulting from its ring structure.