Homework Help: alkanes!

Posted by AL J on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 4:37pm.

What is meant when we say that alkanes are saturated?

Carbon has four bonds. When all the bonds are occupied with hydrogen atoms(no double or triple bonds), the molecule is said to be saturated.
CH4 is saturataed.

CH3CH3 or C2H6 is saturated. There is a C-C bond with the other three bonds on each carbon occupied by a hydrogen atom.

H2C=CH2 is ethene. This is an alkene and it is unsaturated.

HC(triple bond)CH [I can't draw a triple bond with this keyboard.] This is ethyne. It is unsaturated also, just more unsaturated than ethene. This is an alkyne. Just remember that the ending -ane means saturated, the ending -ene means unsaturated (an alkene) and the ending -yne means unsaturated (an alkyne). This may be more than you ever wanted to know about the stuff but the extra infor is on me. I hope this helps.

No one has answered this question yet.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

chemistry - What evidence suggests the carbon-carbon bonds in benzene are ...
Chemistry - 1. Which of the following compounds is an unsaturated hydrocarbon? ...
Naming alkanes - Its been a long time since I did this but I believe you pick ...
Chemistry: Please check answers - 1. Which of the following compounds is an ...
unsaturated! - Alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated. This means??? um.. I honesly...
Biology - 4. The difference between an atom and and element is a. an element is ...
Biology - 4. The difference between an atom and and element is a. an element is ...
Chemistry - Can someone tell me if this makes any sense or if I need to start ...
SCIENCE - Please see if I have the right answer. The three atoms in a water ...
Chemistry - Difference between hydration and hydrogenation reactions? I have ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: