Alkanes

Alkanes are hydrocarbons (only carbon and hydrogen) in which every bond between carbons is single. It's the most basic organic function — the carbon skeleton of every other function is, at its core, an alkane backbone with a functional group attached.

General formula

Naming rule

Name = numerical prefix (meth, eth, prop...) + suffix -ane. Branched chains take the name of the alkyl substituent(s) as a prefix, with the lowest possible locant.

Examples