Also, alkanes are generally unreactive chemically or biologically, and do not undergo functional group interconversions cleanly.
ˈɔːlsoʊ, ˈælkeɪnz ɑːɹ dʒˈɛnɚɹəli ʌnɹɪˈæktɪv kˈɛmɪkli ɔːɹ bˌaɪəlˈɑːdʒɪkli, ænd duːnˌɑːt ˌʌndɚɡˈoʊ fˈʌŋkʃənəl ɡɹˈuːp ˌɪntɚkənvˈɜːʒənz klˈiːnli.