Paraffins are obsolescent term for alkanes. Still widely used in the petrochemical industry.

Group of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, including methane, ethane, propane and butane and noted by the suffix “-ane”.

Synonym for alkanes. The name paraffin often refers specifically to alkane molecules (isomers) having long straight chains. These are the constituents of common candle wax.

open chain, saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. hexane, isooctane, etc.

Straight- or branched-chain hydrocarbons containing no unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. A high paraffins content gives a naphtha a low octane rating, a diesel oil a high octane number, and a vacuum gasoil or straight run fuel oil a good susceptibility to catalytic cracking. The trade often uses the term waxy to signify a high paraffins content in a heavy distillate or resid. The "P" in PONA stands for paraffins.

General name for alkanes; usually used with reference to alkanes with a large number of carbon atoms that are liquids or waxy solids.