Chemistry 2004 JAMB Past Questions - Question 43: A characteristic of the alkane family is

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

Alkanes are hydrocarbons, which means they consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms and are characterized by the presence of single bonds between carbon atoms. The general formula for alkanes is CnH2n+2, where "n" represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. Alkanes are also known as saturated hydrocarbons because they contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, and each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry around each carbon atom.

Since alkanes have only single bonds between carbon atoms, they are relatively inert and less reactive compared to other classes of hydrocarbons, such as alkenes (which contain double bonds) and alkynes (which contain triple bonds). The lack of double or triple bonds makes alkanes stable and less prone to undergo chemical reactions, except under specific conditions, such as combustion.