The alkanes are the hydrocarbons where all of the carbons are bonded to the other carbon atoms by single bonds. Alkanes may exist in a chain structure (either straight or branched) or in a ring structure. Alkanes that are acyclic (not in a ring) possess an empirical formula of C_nH_(2n+2). Alkanes that are cyclic possess an empirical formula of C_nH_2n. In discussing the alkanes as a functional group, the terms aliphatic (for the acyclic alkane substituent) and alicyclic (for the cyclic alkane substituent) are used. The alkanes were originally called paraffins, which came from the Latin phrase parum affinis, which means little affinity. This phrase was used due to the low reactivity of these hydrocarbons. When the alkanes do react the reactions are usually quite vigorous.

Alkanes are denoted by the ending -ane in their name. The simplest...