What is the chemical formula for propane?

Propane is a three-carbon alkane, and its chemical formula reflects the relationship between the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in the molecule. The formula for propane is C3H8, which indicates that there are three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms. In alkanes, the general formula is CnH(2n+2), where 'n' is the number of carbon atoms. Substituting 'n' with 3 gives us C3H(2*3+2), which simplifies to C3H8, confirming that this is indeed the correct formula for propane. The presence of three carbons combined with eight hydrogens is essential for understanding the structure and properties of propane as a saturated hydrocarbon.