Haloalkanes are organic compounds that consist of carbon, hydrogen, and halogen atoms. They are derived from alkanes, where one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Haloalkanes can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the carbon atom to which the halogen is attached. These compounds are commonly used in various applications, including solvents, refrigerants, and in the synthesis of other chemicals. Due to their reactivity, haloalkanes can participate in nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions, making them important in organic chemistry and industrial processes.