Alkanes are chemical compounds that consist only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) (i.e., hydrocarbons), wherein these atoms are linked together exclusively by single bonds . Alkanes belong to a homologous series of organic compounds with the general formula CnH2n+2 in which the members differ by a constant relative molecular mass of 14.
Lower members in the series are gases; from pentane (C5H12) to heptadecane (C17H36) they are liquids; higher members are waxy solids.
