:-ane

{{Short description|Chemical naming suffix}}

In organic chemistry, the suffix -ane forms the names of organic compounds where the {{chem2|\sC\sC\s}} group (a carbon-carbon single bond) has been attributed the highest priority according to the rules of organic nomenclature. Such organic compounds are called alkanes. They are saturated hydrocarbons.

The names of the saturated hydrides of non-metals end with the suffix -ane: the hydrides of silicon are called silanes ({{chem2|SiH4}}); the hydrides of boron are boranes ({{chem2|B2H6}}).

The final "-e" is dropped before a suffix that starts with a vowel, e.g. "propanol".{{Cite book|author= The Commission on the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry |title= Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry |origyear= 1958 (A: Hydrocarbons, and B: Fundamental Heterocyclic Systems), 1965 (C: Characteristic Groups) | year=1971|edition= 3rd combined |publisher= Butterworths |location= London |isbn= 0-408-70144-7}}

Alternatively, "-ane" may be used for a mononuclear hydride of an element. For instance, methane for {{chem2|CH4}} and oxidane for {{chem2|H2O}} (water). {{citation |publisher= IUPAC, Commission on Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry | year=1993 |title= A Guide to IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Compounds |url= http://www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature/93/r93_182.htm}}

For the etymology, see Alkane.