alkane

The basic naming system for alkanes is a prefix indicating length combined with the suffix "-ane": methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, ...

The general formula for unsubstituted alkanes is C_nH_2n+2

  H                 H                    H              
  |                 |                    |
H-C-H             H-C-Br              Cl-C-Cl
  |                 |                    |
  H                 H                    Cl

Methane CH4  Bromomethane CH3Br  Trichloromethane (Tri) CHCl3


  H H                 H H                        H H
  | |                 | |                        | |
H-C-C-H            Br-C-C-Br                  Br-C-C-Cl
  | |                 | |                        | |
  H H                 H H                        H H

 Ethane C2H6  1,2-dibromoethane C2H4Br2  1-bromo-2-chloroethane


  H H H
  | | |
H-C-C-C-H
  | | |
  H H H

 Propane C3H8


  H H H H
  | | | |
H-C-C-C-C-H
  | | | |
  H H H H

  Butane C4H10