The alkanes are straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons.
(saturated = no double or triple bonds)
The general formula of the alkanes is: CnH2n+2
| name | molecular formula | condensed structural formula methane
| CH4
| CH4
| ethane
| C2H6
| CH3CH3
| propane
| C3H8
| CH3CH2CH3
| butane
| C4H10
| CH3CH2CH2CH3
| pentane
| C5H12
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3
| hexane
| C6H14
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
| heptane
| C7H16
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
| octane
| C8H18
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
| nonane
| C9H20
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
| decane
| C10H22
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3
| |
Sometimes long chain formulas are abbreviated
e.g. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3 may be written CH3(CH2)6CH3
