CnH2n + 2 . The word 'paraffin' is a combination of the Greek words ' parum' and 'affinis' . 'Parum' means a little and 'affinis' means affinity . Thus paraffin means a compound with 'mild addiction'. In the alkyne molecule, the carbon atoms are bound to each other by a single bond, and the remaining carbon bonds are filled by hydrogen atoms. That is, the carbon chain is saturated. This is why alkene is chemically less active and is called paraffin.