Member of a group of hydrocarbons having the general formula CnH2n + 2, commonly known as paraffins. As they contain only single covalent bonds, alkanes are said to be saturated. Lighter alkanes, such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane, are colorless gases; heavier ones are liquids or solids. In nature they are found in natural gas and petroleum.
Their principal reactions are combustion and bromination.
CH4 + 2O2 ® CO2 + H2O
C3H8 + 5O2 ® 3CO2 + 4H2O
C2H6 + Br2 ®200ºC C2H5Br + HBr
Any of numerous saturated hydrocarbons; specifically; any of a series of open-chain hydrocarbons CnH2n+2 (as methane and butane) — called also paraffin