alkane

American  

[al-keyn] / ˈæl keɪn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any member of the alkane series.

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alkane British  

/ ˈælkeɪn /

noun

1. Also called: paraffin. 

   1. any saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with the general formula C n H 2n+2

   2. ( as modifier )

      alkane series

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alkane Scientific  

/ ăl′kān′ /

1. Any of a group of hydrocarbons that have carbon atoms in chains linked by single bonds and that have the general formula C _n H _{2n + 2}. Alkanes can be either gaseous, liquid, or solid. They occur naturally in petroleum and natural gas, and include methane, propane and butane.

2. Also called paraffin

3. ◆ 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.

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Etymology

Origin of alkane

First recorded in 1895–1900; alk(yl) + -ane

Example Sentences

This molecule is now a substituted alkane and will be named as such.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The main source of these liquid alkane fuels is crude oil, a complex mixture that is separated by fractional distillation.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Because of the sp3 hybridization, the bond angles in carbon chains are close to 109.5°, giving such chains in an alkane a zigzag shape.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Butane, C4H10, used in camping stoves and lighters is an alkane.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Melt these together over a slow fire, mixing with them a little powder of alkane root to color it.

From Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 by Burroughs, Barkham