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

Hydrocarbons are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen atoms. The alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and cycloalkanes are the important compounds of hydrocarbons.

The alkanes are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen bonded by a single bond. The alkenes are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen bonded by a single bond along with double bonds. The alkynes are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen bonded by a single bond along with triple bonds. The cycloalkanes are compounds containing cyclic structures along with singly bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms.

The general formula compounds are as shown below.

Alkanes:${\text{C}}_{\text{n}}{\text{H}}_{\text{n + 4}}$ ,

Alkenes: ${\text{C}}_{\text{n}}{\text{H}}_{\text{n + 2}}$,

Alkynes: ${\text{C}}_{\text{n}}{\text{H}}_{\text{n}}$,

Cycloalkanes:${\text{C}}_{\text{n}}{\text{H}}_{\text{2n}}$.

The alkane and cycloalkane compounds are saturated compounds. Whereas alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated compounds.