What is the suffix used in the nomenclature of alkanes?

The suffix used in the nomenclature of alkanes is -ane. Alkanes are hydrocarbon compounds that consist entirely of single bonds between carbon atoms. They follow the general formula CnH2n+2, where "n" represents the number of carbon atoms. The -ane suffix signifies that these compounds are aliphatic hydrocarbons saturated with hydrogen, indicating that they do not contain any double or triple bonds. This classification helps chemists to easily differentiate alkanes from other types of hydrocarbons, such as alkenes and alkynes, which have their own distinct suffixes (-ene for alkenes and -yne for alkynes). The use of these suffixes is essential for accurately naming and categorizing organic compounds in organic chemistry.