n.
or silicon hydride
Any of a series of inorganic compounds of silicon and hydrogen with covalent bond s and the general chemical formula Si n H (2n + 2) .
Silanes are structural analogs of saturated hydrocarbons (see saturation ; alkane ) but are much less stable. All burn or explode when exposed to air and react readily with halogen s or hydrogen halides to form halogenated silanes and with olefin s to form alkylsilanes, products used as water repellents and as starting materials for silicone s.