What is the IUPAC name for an alkane with six carbon atoms?

The IUPAC name for an alkane with six carbon atoms is indeed hexane. In organic chemistry, alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and follow the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, where n represents the number of carbon atoms. For alkanes, the name is derived from a prefix that indicates the number of carbon atoms.

For six carbon atoms, the prefix is "hex-," making the full name hexane. The structure of hexane (C₆H₁₄) confirms this naming, as it follows the aforementioned formula (plugging n=6 into CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ results in C₆H₁₄). This systematic approach to naming ensures clarity and consistency in organic chemistry nomenclature.

The other options represent alkanes with different numbers of carbon atoms: pentane has five, heptane has seven, and octane has eight. Each of these names corresponds to a specific number of carbon atoms, thereby distinguishing them from hexane, which has exactly six.