alkane

al·kane  (lkn)

n.

Any member of the alkane series.

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[alk(yl) + -ane.]

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alkane

Noun

Chem any saturated hydrocarbon with the general formula C_nH_2n+2

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alkane  (lkn)

Any of a group of hydrocarbons that have carbon atoms in chains linked by single bonds and that have the general formula C_nH_2n+₂. Alkanes can be either gaseous, liquid, or solid. They occur naturally in petroleum and natural gas, and include methane, propane and butane. Also called paraffin. The group of alkanes as a whole is called the alkane series or the methane or paraffin series. Its first six members are methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and hexane.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

alkane - a series of non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH(2n+2) alkane series, methane series, paraffin series, paraffin aliphatic compound - organic compound that is an alkane or alkene or alkyne or their derivative butane - occurs in natural gas; used in the manufacture of rubber and fuels amine, aminoalkane - a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals C2H6, ethane - a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel heptane - a colorless volatile highly flammable liquid obtained from petroleum and used as an anesthetic or a solvent or in determining octane ratings hexane - a colorless flammable liquid alkane derived from petroleum and used as a solvent methane - a colorless odorless gas used as a fuel