alkane (ăl`kān), any of a group of aliphatic hydrocarbons whose molecules contain only single bonds (see chemical bond chemical bond, mechanism whereby atoms combine to form molecules . There is a chemical bond between two atoms or groups of atoms when the forces acting between them are strong enough to lead to the formation of an aggregate with sufficient stability to be regarded as
..... Click the link for more information. ). Alkanes have the general chemical formula C_nH_2n+2. An alkane is said to have a continuous chain if each carbon atom in its molecule is joined to at most two other carbon atoms; it is said to have a branched chain if any of its carbon atoms is joined to more than two other carbon atoms. The first four continuous-chain alkanes are methane methane (mĕth`ān), CH₄, colorless, odorless, gaseous saturated hydrocarbon; the simplest alkane .
..... Click the link for more information. , CH₄; ethane ethane (ĕth`ān), CH₃CH₃, gaseous hydrocarbon. It is a continuous-chain alkane .
..... Click the link for more information. , C₂H₆; propane propane, CH₃CH₂CH₃, colorless, gaseous alkane . It is readily liquefied by compression and cooling. It melts at −189.9°C; and boils at −42.2°C;.
..... Click the link for more information. , C₃H₈; and butane butane (by
..... Click the link for more information. , C₄H₁₀. Names of continuous-chain alkanes whose molecules contain more than five carbon atoms are formed from a root that indicates the number of carbon atoms and the suffix -ane to indicate that the compound is an alkane; e.g., alkanes with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 carbon atoms in their molecules are pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, and decane, respectively. The name of a branched-chain alkane is formed by adding prefixes to the name of the continuous-chain alkane from which it is considered to be derived; e.g., 2-methylpropane (called also isobutane) is thought of as being derived by replacing one of the hydrogen atoms bonded to the second (2-) carbon atom of a propane molecule with a methyl (CH₃) group, forming CH₃CH(CH₃)₂. Chemically, the alkanes are relatively unreactive. They are obtained by fractional distillation from petroleum and are used extensively as fuels. The alkanes are sometimes referred to as the methane series (after the simplest alkane) or as paraffins.

alkane

or paraffin

Any of a class of hydrocarbons whose molecules consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by single covalent bonds (general formula C_nH₍₂_n_{+ 2)}). The simplest is methane (CH₄). Alkanes with more than three carbon atoms may have straight and branched isomers. Cycloalkanes have ring structures (but are not aromatic compounds) with two fewer hydrogen atoms per molecule than the corresponding alkane; many have more than one ring. Commercial sources include petroleum and natural gas. Uses, often as mixtures, include fuels, solvents, and raw materials. See also paraffin.

alkane

a. any saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with the general formula C_nH_2n+2

b. (as modifier): alkane series

alkane [′al‚kān]

(organic chemistry)

A member of a series of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having the empirical formula C_nH_{2n+ 2}. Also known as paraffin; paraffinic hydrocarbon.

alkane (redirected from Pentanonacontane)

alkane

alkane
(redirected from Pentanonacontane)