母链命名,甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸……烷分别为狗搂:X+anemethane (1 carbon atom), ethane (2 carbon atoms), propane (3 carbon atoms), butane (4 carbon atoms), pentane (5 carbon atoms), hexane (6 carbon atoms), heptane (7 carbon atoms), octane (8 carbon atoms), nonane (9 carbon atoms) and decane (10 carbon atoms). 英文中的一二三四是化学中匪辉乐的专用,后面的5-10均来自于希腊语.中国用天干代替希腊语数字前缀.当超过十的时乐金候,中文用数字,如十五烷.