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All words

noun

alkane

a series of non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH(2n+2)

In a sentence

Six example sentences with alkane, each labelled with its topic.

  • Methane leaking from old wells is the simplest alkane, and it traps far more heat than carbon dioxide does.

    Environment

  • Camping stoves burn propane, an alkane whose short carbon chain and single bonds make it easy to compress into cylinders.

    Technology

  • Traders watching butane and propane contracts know each alkane in the barrel prices differently once winter heating demand climbs.

    Finance

  • Each alkane in the series adds one carbon and two hydrogens, so the boiling point climbs steadily along the table.

    Science

  • Paraffin wax is a long-chain alkane, which is why a coated cheese rind keeps out moisture for months.

    Cooking

  • Nineteenth century chemists sorted crude oil by boiling point long before anyone named each alkane by its carbon count.

    History

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