What is defined as a haloalkane?

A haloalkane, also known as an alkyl halide, is defined as an alkane that contains at least one halogen atom attached to its carbon chain. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they consist solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, bonded by single covalent bonds. The substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms with halogen atoms (such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) transforms the alkane into a haloalkane.

This definition aligns with the nature of haloalkanes, where the presence of a halogen introduces distinct chemical properties and reactivity compared to the original alkane. Haloalkanes play a significant role in organic chemistry, particularly in reactions like nucleophilic substitution and elimination.

The other options do not accurately represent the characteristics of a haloalkane. For instance, a compound with a hydroxyl group is classified as an alcohol, and an unsaturated hydrocarbon typically refers to alkenes or alkynes, which contain double or triple carbon-carbon bonds, respectively. Therefore, the definition provided by the correct answer captures the essence of what constitutes a haloalkane.