Final answer:
The alkane with the formula C2H6 is called ethane, which is part of the series of straight-chain alkanes that follow a naming pattern based on the number of carbon atoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The straight-chain alkane with the molecular formula C2H6 is called ethane. Alkanes are simple hydrocarbon chains where each carbon atom is saturated with hydrogen atoms. Ethane is part of a series of straight-chain alkanes that increase by adding CH2 units for each subsequent member of the series. The longest chain of carbon atoms determines the base name of the alkane.
Starting from the smallest alkane, we have methane (CH4), followed by ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and so on. This pattern continues with increasing carbon chains named butane (C4), pentane (C5), hexane (C6), heptane (C7), octane (C8), nonane (C9), and decane (C10). Propane is the name for the three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. The molecular formula for alkanes follows the general formula CnH2n+2.