Chapter 11: Problem 3
What do "saturated" and "unsaturated" mean when applied to hydrocarbons? Give examples of a saturated hydrocarbon and an unsaturated hydrocarbon.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Saturated hydrocarbons have single bonds; unsaturated have double or triple bonds. Examples: propane (saturated), propene (unsaturated).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon. They are classified based on the types of bonds between carbon atoms.
02
Identifying Saturated Hydrocarbons
Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds between the carbon atoms. These compounds are known as alkanes. For example, methane (CH鈧) and ethane (C鈧侶鈧) are saturated hydrocarbons because they have only single bonds connecting the carbon atoms.
03
Identifying Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Unsaturated hydrocarbons have one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms. These compounds include alkenes and alkynes. For instance, ethene (C鈧侶鈧) is an alkene with a carbon-carbon double bond, and ethyne (C鈧侶鈧) is an alkyne with a carbon-carbon triple bond. These extra bonds cause them to be unsaturated.
04
Examples of Each Type
An example of a saturated hydrocarbon is propane (C鈧僅鈧), which has only single bonds. An example of an unsaturated hydrocarbon is propene (C鈧僅鈧), which has a double bond between carbon atoms.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Saturated Hydrocarbons
Saturated hydrocarbons are a group of hydrocarbons where all carbon atoms are bound together by single bonds, and the hydrogen atoms have filled up the remaining available sites. These types of hydrocarbons are also known as alkanes.
The term "saturated" refers to the hydrocarbon being "saturated" with hydrogen鈥攖hey contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms that can bond with the carbon structure.
Some common examples of saturated hydrocarbons include:
The term "saturated" refers to the hydrocarbon being "saturated" with hydrogen鈥攖hey contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms that can bond with the carbon structure.
Some common examples of saturated hydrocarbons include:
- Methane (CH鈧) - the simplest hydrocarbon with one carbon atom.
- Ethane (C鈧侶鈧) - a two-carbon molecule with only single bonds.
- Propane (C鈧僅鈧) - used in heating and cooking; also contains only single bonds.
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain at least one double or triple bond between carbon atoms, which means they do not have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms. This characteristic defines them as 'unsaturated'.
These hydrocarbons can further be divided into two main types:
These hydrocarbons can further be divided into two main types:
- Alkenes - which have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
- Alkynes - which have one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds.
Alkanes
Alkanes are a class of saturated hydrocarbons, meaning all bonds between carbon atoms are single bonds. Their general formula is \( C_nH_{2n+2} \).
Alkanes are also called paraffins and are generally less reactive due to their single-bonded structure. They are often found in daily life applications ranging from burning as fuels to being used as solvents.
Some common examples include:
Alkanes are also called paraffins and are generally less reactive due to their single-bonded structure. They are often found in daily life applications ranging from burning as fuels to being used as solvents.
Some common examples include:
- Butane (C鈧凥鈧佲個) - commonly used in lighters.
- Hexane (C鈧咹鈧佲倓) - often used in laboratories as a non-polar solvent.
Alkenes
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one double bond between carbon atoms. Their general formula is \( C_nH_{2n} \).
The double bond in alkenes grants them unique chemical properties, including the ability to undergo addition reactions where new atoms can be added across the double bond. These reactions are fundamental in creating many important compounds in the chemical industry.
For example:
The double bond in alkenes grants them unique chemical properties, including the ability to undergo addition reactions where new atoms can be added across the double bond. These reactions are fundamental in creating many important compounds in the chemical industry.
For example:
- Ethene (C鈧侶鈧), also known as ethylene, is used as a plant hormone to ripen fruit.
- Propene (C鈧僅鈧) is a crucial material in the production of plastics and rubbers.
Alkynes
Alkynes are another type of unsaturated hydrocarbon with at least one triple bond between carbon atoms. Their general formula is \( C_nH_{2n-2} \).
This triple bond allows alkynes to have even more reactivity compared to alkenes, contributing to their importance in synthetic chemistry. Alkynes are often used in organic synthesis and in making complex chemical compounds.
Some specific examples include:
This triple bond allows alkynes to have even more reactivity compared to alkenes, contributing to their importance in synthetic chemistry. Alkynes are often used in organic synthesis and in making complex chemical compounds.
Some specific examples include:
- Ethyne (C鈧侶鈧), commonly known as acetylene, used as a fuel in welding torches.
- Propyne (C鈧僅鈧), used in organic synthesis.