a. What do the terms saturated and unsaturated mean when applied to hydrocarbons? b. What other

step 1 Let's start by answering part A of the question. So, as you may know from using the term colloqu

A. What do the terms saturated and unsaturated mean when...

Key Concepts

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Saturated hydrocarbons are organic compounds where all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds. This configuration allows each carbon atom to hold the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, making these molecules relatively inert to addition reactions. Their stability and fully ‘saturated’ nature refer to the absence of any multiple bonds (double or triple bonds) between carbon atoms.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain one or more multiple carbon–carbon bonds (double or triple bonds), meaning they do not have the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms attached. This structure makes them more reactive than saturated hydrocarbons, as the multiple bonds can accommodate addition reactions, which is a key factor in their chemical behavior.

Saturation in Other Chemical Contexts

Beyond hydrocarbons, the terms 'saturated' and 'unsaturated' are used to describe the extent to which certain substances can participate in additional interactions or reactions. For example, a 'saturated solution' in chemistry is one where no more solute can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature, while an 'unsaturated solution' can dissolve additional solute. These terms similarly denote a state of maximum occupancy or potential for further incorporation.

Hydrocarbon Classification

Within the context of hydrocarbon families, classification is based on the presence or absence of multiple bonds. Alkanes are classified as saturated because they contain only single bonds. In contrast, alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated due to containing one or more double or triple bonds, respectively. Aromatic hydrocarbons are also considered unsaturated because their structures include delocalized electrons typically associated with multiple bonded systems, even though they exhibit additional stability due to resonance.

Transcript

00:01 Let's start by answering part a of the question.

00:05 So, as you may know from using the term colloquially, saturated is usually referring to something as completely or totally full.

00:16 It is as full as possible.

00:18 So if we're looking at hydrocarbons, saturated hydrocarbon has as many hydrogens as possible.

00:32 And in contrast an unsaturated hydrocarbon may have a double or triple bond.

00:48 So if i were to draw an example of a saturated hydrocarbon, i could draw ethane, for example, so that's two carbons.

01:08 And they're going to have as many hydrogens as possible.

01:12 So that would be for each of the carbons to have three hydrogens, since carbon can form four bonds in total, and one has to be to the other carbon.

01:30 So this is an example of a saturated hydrocarbon.

01:38 If i were to draw an example of an unsaturated hydrocarbon, i can draw athene.

01:45 Athene has a double bond.

01:48 So although the maximum number of hydrogens that a carbon can form, once it already has one other bond, is three hydrogens.

02:00 These ethene molecules have carbons that only have two hydrogens.

02:15 And this is because one of the bonds that could have been taken by a hydrogen is taken up by the double bond.

02:22 This is unsaturated.

02:31 You may recall from previous chapters that unsaturated and saturated can also refer to solutions.

02:39 So saturation can refer solutions.

02:45 Saturated solutions are solutions that have as much solute as they can possibly hold without forming precipitate.

03:09 In contrast, unsaturated solutions and still have salute added and the solute will dissolve.

03:39 Finally, let's look at part c of the question.

03:45 So first, let's look at the first type of molecule that's being asked.

03:51 So let's look at alkenes.

03:52 I'm going to draw an example of each of the molecules that they asked about, just so we can have a visual to compare...

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