What does alkane mean?
An alkane is a type of hydrocarbon — a compound made entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms — in which every carbon–carbon link is a single bond. Because no more hydrogen can be added to its framework, an alkane is described as 'saturated', and all members share the general formula CnH2n+2. The family runs from methane, the smallest and most abundant, through ethane, propane, and butane, to long chains and branched structures that make up much of petroleum, natural gas, and candle wax. Alkanes are chemically unreactive compared with other hydrocarbons, which makes them valuable as fuels and lubricants: burning them releases substantial energy, powering engines and heating homes. The word belongs firmly to scientific vocabulary, appearing in chemistry classrooms, laboratories, and industrial settings rather than everyday conversation, though the substances it names are among the most economically important materials on Earth.
nounA saturated hydrocarbon — a compound of carbon and hydrogen in which all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds — with the general chemical formula CnH2n+2. The simplest examples are methane, ethane, propane, and butane.
- Any saturated hydrocarbon consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by single bonds, conforming to the general formula CnH2n+2; the family includes methane, ethane, propane, and their larger relatives found in petroleum and natural gas.
"Propane is the smallest alkane that is liquid at room temperature under moderate pressure."
"Methane, the simplest alkane, consists of just one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms."
"The crude oil was separated into fractions by distilling off each alkane according to its boiling point."
Regular plural; used when referring to members of the alkane family individually or collectively as a class.
"The first four alkanes — methane, ethane, propane, and butane — are gases at room temperature."
Every time you fill a tank with petrol or strike a lighter, you're burning a cocktail of alkanes — chemistry's least reactive molecules doing their most explosive work.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alkane
The term 'alkane' derives from 'alkyl', itself adapted from Arabic 'al-' (the definite article) combined with 'kohl', via German usage in nineteenth-century chemistry. It was formed by adding the '-ane' ending, introduced to denote saturated hydrocarbons systematically. Its siblings 'alkene' and 'alkyne' were built on the same root for hydrocarbons with double and triple bonds respectively.
How alkane is actually used
Strictly a technical term used in organic chemistry, petrochemistry, and education; it rarely appears outside scientific contexts. In older British usage, the group was commonly called 'paraffins', a term still encountered in industry, though 'alkane' is now standard internationally.
Easily confused with alkane
An alkene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon–carbon double bond, whereas an alkane has only single bonds.
An alkyne contains at least one carbon–carbon triple bond, making it unsaturated, while an alkane is fully saturated with only single bonds.