What type of bonds are there between alkanes?

What type of bonds are there between alkanes?

• A. Ionic bonds
• B. Covalent bonds
• C. Hydrogen bonds
• D. Metallic bonds

Answer: (B)

The bonds in alkanes are covalent bonds. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons where carbon and hydrogen atoms share electron pairs to fill their outer shells, forming C–C and C–H single covalent bonds. This sharing creates strong bonds within each molecule. Ionic bonds would require full transfer of electrons to create ions, which hydrocarbons do not form. Hydrogen bonds require hydrogen attached to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine—alkanes lack those atoms. Metallic bonds occur in metals, not in covalently bonded hydrocarbons. So the correct concept is that the bonds within alkanes are covalent. (Note: interactions between separate alkane molecules are weak London dispersion forces, not covalent bonds.)

The bonds in alkanes are covalent bonds. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons where carbon and hydrogen atoms share electron pairs to fill their outer shells, forming C–C and C–H single covalent bonds. This sharing creates strong bonds within each molecule. Ionic bonds would require full transfer of electrons to create ions, which hydrocarbons do not form. Hydrogen bonds require hydrogen attached to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine—alkanes lack those atoms. Metallic bonds occur in metals, not in covalently bonded hydrocarbons. So the correct concept is that the bonds within alkanes are covalent. (Note: interactions between separate alkane molecules are weak London dispersion forces, not covalent bonds.)