A saturated hydrocarbon is a hydrocarbon that contains only single bonds between carbon atoms. It is called "saturated" because each carbon atom in the molecule is bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible.
An unsaturated hydrocarbon, on the other hand, contains one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms. It is called "unsaturated" because it can potentially bind more hydrogen atoms if double or triple bonds are broken and replaced with single bonds.
In terms of chemical structure, saturated hydrocarbons have a linear or branched chain structure. They are often referred to as alkanes. Examples include methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8).
Unsaturated hydrocarbons have a more complex structure due to the presence of double or triple bonds. They can be categorized into alkenes, which have one or more double bonds, and alkynes, which have one or more triple bonds. Examples of unsaturated hydrocarbons include ethene (C2H4), propene (C3H6), and ethyne (C2H2).
Saturated hydrocarbons are generally more stable, have higher boiling points, and are less reactive compared to unsaturated hydrocarbons. Unsaturated hydrocarbons, due to the presence of double or triple bonds, have the potential to undergo addition reactions with other compounds.
What is the difference between a saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon?
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