I am having trouble understanding the reason why Alkanes are unreactive?

Question

Alkanes are hydrocarbons, which means they contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms in their bonding. Now, the electronegativity difference between the C-C bonds and the C-H bonds is very small. This would make the electrons between the atoms loosely held and thus weaker bonds, right? So because these bonds are weak, wouldn't that make the molecule reactive because the bonds are easier to break??

My cellular biology textbook stated that the C-H bonds in a carbohydrate, for example, are less tightly held and have more energy than double bonded Carbon and Oxygen bonds. How does this work?

Answer 1

The basic error in your argument is that a small electronegativity difference leads to a very strong, non-polar covalent bond, and not a weak one.

Answer 2

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