Under alkaline conditions, alkane does not readily react with sulfuric acid. Alkanes are relatively unreactive compounds and do not undergo direct reactions with strong acids like sulfuric acid. However, if there are specific conditions or catalysts present, some reactions can occur.
One such reaction is the oxidation of alkanes to produce alkyl hydrogen sulfates. This reaction requires a strong oxidizing agent, such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4), in the presence of sulfuric acid and under high temperature or pressure. The reaction can be represented as follows:
2R-H + H2SO4 + KMnO4 -> R-O-SO3H + MnSO4 + H2O
In this reaction, the alkane (R-H) is oxidized to form an alkyl hydrogen sulfate (R-O-SO3H). However, it's important to note that this reaction typically requires harsh conditions and is not a common reaction for alkanes under normal circumstances.
In general, alkanes are relatively inert towards most acids, including sulfuric acid. They are typically used as solvents or reactants in other reactions rather than being direct participants in acid-base reactions.