Alkanes are organic compounds that consist entirely of single-bonded carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Alkanes are colorless and odorless.

Alkanes have a lower density than water therefore they do not float on water.

The most important sources for alkanes are oil and natural gas.

Alkanes having 1-4 carbon atoms are gases, then from 5-17 carbon atoms they are liquid and alkanes having 18 or more carbon atoms are solid at 298K.

Alkanes are soluble in water or hydrophobic in nature.

The common use of alkanes are for heating, cooking and transportation.

Alkanes are commercially very important, being the principal constituent of gasoline and lubricating oils.

Alkanes possess strong Van Der Waals forces, London Forces, Dispersion Forces and weak intermolecular forces of attraction between each molecules.