Dictionary
al'kane se"ries
Chem.
the homologous series of saturated, aliphatic hydrocarbons having the general formula C
nH
2n+2, as methane, CH
4, or ethane, C
2H
6.
Also called methane series, paraffin series. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.