Which of the following is a property shared by all $\mathrm{alkanes}$?

• A. They are highly reactive with most $\mathrm{acids}$ under standard conditions.
• B. They are saturated $\mathrm{hydrocarbons}$ containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.
• C. They contain at least one $\mathrm{double} \mathrm{bond}$ between carbon atoms.
• D. They always contain an $\mathrm{aromatic} \mathrm{ring}$.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definition of alkanes: they are hydrocarbons composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms connected by single bonds only.
2. Understand that 'saturated' means all carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds, with no double or triple bonds present in the molecule.
3. Recognize that alkanes do not contain aromatic rings, which are a special type of cyclic structure with alternating double bonds.
4. Note that alkanes are generally unreactive with acids under standard conditions because they lack functional groups that would readily react with acids.
5. Conclude that the key property shared by all alkanes is that they are saturated hydrocarbons containing only single bonds between carbon atoms.