Alkanes are also known as paraffins.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Define Alkanes:**
Alkanes are a class of hydrocarbons that consist solely of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, connected by single covalent bonds. They are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible for a given number of carbon atoms.

2. **Explain Saturated Hydrocarbons:**
Saturated hydrocarbons are characterized by having only single bonds between carbon atoms. This means that each carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible, resulting in a stable structure.

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