This lesson on alkanes focuses on their physical properties, particularly the boiling points, which increase with chain length. Methane, the simplest alkane, has a boiling point of -161°C, while decane goes up to 174°C, with pentane being the first to exceed room temperature with a boiling point of 36°C. The increase in boiling points is attributed to stronger Van der Waals forces between longer carbon chains, influencing their phase at room temperature.