Kalmar "alkane" tana nufin wani nau'in fili na hydrocarbon wanda ya ƙunshi gaba ɗaya na carbon da hydrogen atom. Alkanes kuma ana kiran su da paraffins kuma ana siffanta su da ƙarancin amsawarsu. Gabaɗaya dabara don alkane shine CnH2n 2, inda n shine adadin carbon atom a cikin kwayoyin. Alkane mafi sauki shine methane, wanda ke da carbon atom guda daya da hydrogen atom guda hudu, sauran misalan sun hada da ethane, propane, butane, da pentane. Alkanes yawanci ana amfani da su azaman mai da sauran ƙarfi, kuma suna da mahimmanci tubalan ginin masana'antar sinadarai.