Saturated silicon hydrides, analogues of the
alkanes; i.e. compounds of the general formula
SinH2n+2.
Silanes may be subdivided into silane, oligosilanes and polysilanes. Note
hydrocarbyl derivatives and other derivatives are often referred to loosely as silanes.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on
structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1365