When a solution of halo alkane in dry ether is treated with sodium metal, higher alkanes are produced. This reaction is known as Wurtz reaction. For example:
\({ CH }_{ 3 }-Br+2Na+Br-{ CH }_{ 3 }\overset { dry\ ether }{ \longrightarrow } { CH }_{ 3 }-{ CH }_{ 3 }+2NaBr\)

Nascent hydrogen reacts with chloropropane to give propane.
\(\underset { Chloropropane }{ { CH }_{ 3 }-{ CH }_{ 2 }-{ CH }_{ 2 }-Cl } \overset { \left[ H \right] ,Zn|HCl }{ \underset { -HCl }{ \longrightarrow } } \underset { (Propane) }{ { CH }_{ 3 }-{ CH }_{ 2 }-{ CH }_{ 3 } } \)

When potassium or sodium salt of carboxylic acid is electrolysed, a higher alkane is formed.
\({ 2CH }_{ 3 }COONa+{ 2H }_{ 2 }O\overset { Electrolysis }{ \longrightarrow } \underset { (at\ aniode) }{ { CH }_{ 3 }-{ CH }_{ 3 }+{ 2CO }_{ 2 }+2NaOH+{ H }_{ 2 } } \)

When a mixture of sodium salt of carboxylic acid and sodalime is heated an alkane is formed. During this process CO₂ molecule is eliminated process and this process is known as decarboxylation reaction.
\(\underset { (Sodiumacetate) }{ { CH }_{ 3 }COONa } \overset { NaOH|Cao }{ \underset { \Delta }{ \longrightarrow } } \underset { (Methane) }{ { CH }_{ 4 }+{ Na }_{ 2 }{ CO }_{ 3 } } \) 

The process of addition of H₂ to unsaturated compounds (alkenes or alkynes) in known as hydrogenation. The above process can be catalysed by nickel at 298 K. This reaction is known as Sabatier-Sendersens reaction. For example:
\(\underset { (Ethane) }{ { CH }_{ 2 }={ CH }_{ 2 } } +{ H }_{ 2 }\overset { Ni }{ \underset { 298K }{ \longrightarrow } } \underset { (Ethane) }{ { CH }_{ 3 }-{ CH }_{ 3 } } \)