Final answer:
Ethane does not react with iodic acid under normal conditions; it's a stable, saturated hydrocarbon with a nonreactive C-C bond. Iodic acid is an oxidizing agent, yet ethane's strong C-H and C-C sigma bonds resist reactions without extreme conditions or specific catalysts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When ethane reacts with iodic acid, there isn't a straightforward reaction under normal conditions. Typically, iodic acid is an oxidizing agent that might be used to oxidize various substances, but ethane is relatively unreactive due to its saturated hydrocarbon structure.
The structure of ethane, C₂H₆, consists of two carbon atoms single-bonded to each other, with each carbon atom also bound to three hydrogen atoms. These carbons are said to be sp³ hybridized, where one sp³ orbital from each carbon overlaps to form the carbon-carbon sigma bond, and each other sp³ orbital overlaps with the s orbital of a hydrogen atom to form carbon-hydrogen sigma bonds. The C-C and C-H sigma bonds in ethane make it a fairly nonreactive molecule under mild conditions.
However, if we consider a reaction under more extreme conditions or in the presence of certain catalysts, theoretically, iodic acid could oxidize ethane, potentially leading to substituted products such as iodoethane. But this type of reaction would be uncommon and not typical of ethane's general chemical behavior. More commonly, ethane undergoes combustion reactions with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water vapor.