Alkanes are used mainly

Alkanes are primarily used as domestic and industrial fuels. Alkanes are a group of hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are therefore relatively inert. They are obtained from crude oil and natural gas and can be used as fuels for heating and cooking in households and industries. In addition to their use as fuels, alkanes are also used in the production of plastics, where they serve as starting materials for the synthesis of various types of plastics. They are also used in the hydrogenation of oils to produce margarine, and as fine chemicals, where they are used as solvents, lubricants, and as a starting material in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other specialty chemicals. However, these applications are not as significant as their use as fuels.