alkane

1. (organic chemistry) Any acyclic saturated hydrocarbon (methane, ethane, etc.).Examples: "The carbon chain of an alkane may be linear or branched, but must not contain loops (cycles); its chemical formula is of the form CₙH₂ₙ₊₂."; "Whereas production levels of short-chain alkanes in plants are insufficient to provide an economically viable fuel source, the genes encoding the alkane biosynthetic pathway may provide a biotechnological resource for engineering fermentation organisms with the capacity to convert biomass to an alkane-based fuel."; "The oxidation of the simplest alkane methanol is carried out by methylotrophs that may be obligate or facultative."Synonyms: paraffin