The key difference between straight and branched chain alkanes is that in straight-chain alkanes, all the carbon atoms bond with each other forming a continuous chain whereas branched-chain alkanes have side chains attached to a continuous carbon chain.
Alkanes are hydrocarbon compounds containing carbon and hydrogen atoms with only single bonds between them (no double bonds or triple bonds between carbon atoms). Based on their structure, there are two types of alkanes as straight chain alkanes and branched-chain alkanes.
