(a) What structural feature is associated with each type of...

(a) What structural feature is associated with each type of hydrocarbon: alkane, cycloalkane, alkene, and alkyne?
(b) Give the general formula for each type.
(c) Which hydrocarbons are considered saturated?

Key Concepts

Alkyne

Alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon–carbon triple bond, which consists of one sigma bond and two pi bonds. This triple bond further reduces the hydrogen count compared to both alkanes and alkenes, with acyclic alkynes typically following the formula C?H????. The presence of the triple bond is the key structural feature that imparts unsaturation to alkynes.

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Saturated hydrocarbons are compounds in which each carbon atom forms only single bonds, allowing them to carry the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. This category includes alkanes and cycloalkanes. Because they do not contain carbon–carbon double or triple bonds, they are deemed saturated, while alkenes and alkynes are categorized as unsaturated due to their multiple bonds.

Cycloalkane

Cycloalkanes are similar to alkanes in that they contain only single bonds; however, their carbon atoms are arranged in a ring or cyclic structure. Due to the closure of the ring, their formula is typically C?H??, which still allows the molecule to be saturated since all bonds are single bonds even though the hydrogen count is slightly reduced compared to their acyclic counterparts.

Alkane

Alkanes are hydrocarbons that feature only single bonds between carbon atoms (sigma bonds). This saturation with single bonds allows them to have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms per carbon atom, generally following the formula C?H????. Their structure is linear or branched, and they are considered saturated because they lack any multiple bonds.

Alkene

Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons characterized by at least one carbon–carbon double bond (pi bond alongside a sigma bond). This double bond introduces a site of unsaturation, reducing the number of hydrogen atoms compared to alkanes. The simplest acyclic alkenes generally follow the formula C?H??, reflecting the presence of a double bond that limits full hydrogen saturation.

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