Alkanes are the organic compounds consisting entirely single bonded Carbon -Carbon and Carbon - Hydrogen atoms, and no other type of atoms. It is a-cyclic and saturated hydrocarbon .
I had the general formula C n H 2n+2 .
It can be either branched or unbranched.
Each carbon in such compounds atom issp3 hybridisedwith 4sigma bonds (either CC or C-H bonds).
Alkanes are very little reactive , even in biological environment.
Alkanes have two main commercial sources - Petroleum and Natural Gas.

I hope this helps.

Hello Vishnu, Greetings!

So the general formula for alkanes is C (n) H (2n+2) where n takes any integer value.

Therefore, the most common alkane , which is Methane, having one carbon and therefore 4 hydrogens and hence the molecular formula for Methane is CH4.

Similarly for Ethane, the molecular formula is C2H6 and so on.

I hope you are now clear with the general formula of alkanes .

Feel free to ask any more queries that trouble you.