Alkanes Are Called PARAFFINS WHY?


Alkane are the hydrocarbons, all carbon and hydrogen bonds are single covalent bond- all are sigma bonds.
Sigma bonds are strong bonds where bonded electrons are tightly held between bonded nuclei. So sigma bonds are inert - have very little reactivity to other reagents like oxidizing , reducing, electrophile , nucleophile, acids and bases.

Another factor contributes towards little affinity of alkanes is low polarity of C and H bonds. Electronegativity of carbon is 2.5 and that of hydrogen os 2.1, hence electronegativity difference is just 0.4. which is negligible. Alkane are considered as non- polar molecules. So they are inert towards all sort of reagents.
 That os reason alkane are also called PARAFFINS mean little affinity.

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