Final answer:
In IUPAC nomenclature for alkanes, prefixes represent the number of carbon atoms in the longest chain, ranging from methane (1 carbon) to decane (10 carbons), with the suffix -ane indicating the alkane family.
Step-by-step explanation:
To name an alkane, you need to identify the longest carbon chain in its structure and then use the IUPAC prefix that corresponds to the number of carbons. The IUPAC prefixes for 1 to 10 carbons are as follows: methane for 1 carbon, ethane for 2, propane for 3, butane for 4, pentane for 5, hexane for 6, heptane for 7, octane for 8, nonane for 9, and decane for 10. These are named respectively for alkanes with straight chains; any branches or substituents are then named and numbered according to their position on this main chain.
For example, a compound with a straight chain of five carbon atoms would be named pentane. The molecular formula for alkanes follows the pattern CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms. Remember, for the IUPAC naming convention, the suffix -ane indicates that a molecule is part of the alkane family and the prefixes describe the number of carbon atoms in the longest chain.