What is the general formula for alkanes?

The general formula for alkanes is represented as CnH2n+2. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, which means they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms. The formula CnH2n+2 reflects that for every n carbon atoms in the molecule, there are 2n hydrogen atoms plus two additional hydrogen atoms, which compensate for the extra hydrogen needed to fully saturate the carbon atoms at the ends of the chain.

For example, when n equals 1, the formula predicts CH4, which corresponds to methane, the simplest alkane. As more carbon atoms are added, the formula accurately predicts the structures of other alkanes such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and so on. Understanding the structure and bonding characteristics of these molecules is essential in organic chemistry.

The incorrect options represent different classes of compounds or structures that do not align with the saturation characteristics of alkanes. CnH2n-2 typically describes alkynes, which contain at least one triple bond and are not fully saturated. CnH2n would represent alkenes, which have at least one double bond and therefore fewer hydrogen atoms than