Editing Alkane (section)

===Linear alkanes===
{{further|List of straight-chain alkanes}}
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Straight-chain alkanes are sometimes indicated by the prefix "n-" or "''n''-"(for "normal") where a non-linear [[isomer]] exists. Although this is not strictly necessary and is not part of the IUPAC naming system, the usage is still common in cases where one wishes to emphasize or distinguish between the straight-chain and branched-chain isomers, e.g., "[[butane|''n''-butane]]" rather than simply "butane" to differentiate it from [[isobutane]]. Alternative names for this group used in the petroleum industry are '''linear paraffins''' or '''''n''-paraffins'''.

The first eight members of the series (in terms of number of carbon atoms) are named as follows:
; [[methane]]: CH<sub>4</sub> – one carbon and 4 hydrogen
; [[ethane]] : C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> – two carbon and 6 hydrogen
; [[propane]]: C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub> – three carbon and 8 hydrogen
; [[butane]] : C<sub>4</sub>H<sub>10</sub> – four carbon and 10 hydrogen
; [[pentane]]: C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>12</sub> – five carbon and 12 hydrogen
; [[hexane]] : C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>14</sub> – six carbon and 14 hydrogen
; [[heptane]]: C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>16</sub> – seven carbons and 16 hydrogen
; [[octane]]: C<sub>8</sub>H<sub>18</sub> – eight carbons and 18 hydrogen

The first four names were [[back-formation|derived]] from [[methanol]], [[diethyl ether|ether]], [[propionic acid]] and [[butyric acid]]. Alkanes with five or more carbon atoms are named by adding the [[Affix|suffix]] '''-ane''' to the appropriate [[IUPAC numerical multiplier|numerical multiplier]] prefix<ref name=reusch-nom>{{cite web | first = William |last=Reusch | work = Virtual Textbook of Organic Chemistry | title = Nomenclature – Alkanes | url = http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/nomen1.htm | access-date = 5 April 2007 | archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160521131930/http://www.cem.msu.edu/~reusch/VirtualText/nomen1.htm | archive-date = 21 May 2016 | url-status = dead}}</ref> with [[elision]] of any terminal vowel (''-a'' or ''-o'') from the basic numerical term. Hence, [[pentane]], C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>12</sub>; [[hexane]], C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>14</sub>; [[heptane]], C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>16</sub>; [[octane]], C<sub>8</sub>H<sub>18</sub>; etc. The [[numeral prefix]] is generally Greek; however, alkanes with a carbon atom count ending in nine, for example [[nonane]], use the [[Latin language|Latin]] prefix '''non-'''.