Para means less
affines means reactive

also saturated hydrocarbons are less reactive so paraffins are called open chain saturated hydrocarbons

Open-chain saturated hydrocarbons are called Paraffins.

Paraffins, also known as alkanes, are a type of hydrocarbon compound that consists of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are called open-chain saturated hydrocarbons because their carbon atoms are arranged in a straight or branched chain and are bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, making them saturated with hydrogen.

Explanation:

Definition of Paraffins:
- Paraffins are a group of hydrocarbons that are composed solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
- They are characterized by their open-chain structure, meaning that the carbon atoms are arranged in a linear or branched chain.
- Paraffins are saturated hydrocarbons, which means that their carbon atoms are bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible.
- The general formula for paraffins is CnH2n+2, where n represents the number of carbon atoms in the chain.

Structure of Paraffins:
- In paraffins, each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms, either hydrogen or carbon.
- The carbon atoms are arranged in a linear or branched chain, and the hydrogen atoms fill the remaining bonding positions.
- The carbon-carbon bonds in paraffins are single bonds, which makes them saturated with hydrogen atoms.
- The presence of only single bonds between carbon atoms allows for free rotation around the carbon-carbon axis, giving paraffins flexibility and the ability to adopt different conformations.

Examples of Paraffins:
- Methane (CH4) is the simplest paraffin and consists of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms.
- Ethane (C2H6) has two carbon atoms bonded together by a single bond, with each carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms.
- Propane (C3H8) has three carbon atoms in a chain, with each carbon atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms and the end carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms.

Uses of Paraffins:
- Paraffins have various applications in industry and everyday life.
- They are used as fuels, such as in the form of natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
- Paraffins are also used as solvents, lubricants, and in the production of waxes, plastics, and other chemicals.
- In addition, paraffins are important components of gasoline and diesel fuels.

In conclusion, open-chain saturated hydrocarbons are called paraffins because they consist of straight or branched chains of carbon atoms bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. Paraffins have various applications in industry and are important components of fuels and other chemicals.