Alkanes Alkanes are the simplest organic molecules,they only contain C and hydrogen,and only contain single bonds. Compounds that have the maximum number of bonded hydrogens,are said to be saturated. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons,with a general Formula:CH22 The simplest members of this group are the n-alkanes. H H-C-H methane C H4 H HH H-C-C-H ethane C2He H HH H-C-C-C-H propane C3Ha H HH HHHH H-C-C-C-C-H butane C4H10 HHHH HHHHH H-C-C-C-C-C-H pentane CsH12 HHHHH Ch03 Alkanes (landscape) Page I Ch03 Alkanes (landscape) Page 1 Alkanes Alkanes are the simplest organic molecules, they only contain C and hydrogen, and only contain single bonds. Compounds that have the maximum number of bonded hydrogens, are said to be saturated. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, with a general Formula: CnH2n+2 The simplest members of this group are the n-alkanes. H C H H H H C H H C H H H H C H C H H H C H H H H C H C H H H C H H C C C H C H H H C H H C H H H H H H H H H methane C1H4 ethane C2H6 propane C3H8 butane C4H10 pentane C5H12