Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 24: Problem 21

(a) Why are alkanes said to be saturated? (b) Is \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) a saturated hydrocarbon? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Alkanes are considered saturated because they contain only single covalent bonds and have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded to their carbon atoms. \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) is not a saturated hydrocarbon, as it does not follow the general formula for alkanes \((C_nH_{2n+2})\) and must contain double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

Step by step solution

01

Part (a): Understanding Alkanes and Saturation

Alkanes are a class of organic compounds that contain only carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. The carbon atoms in alkanes are connected to each other by single covalent bonds, and each carbon atom is bonded to hydrogen atoms, resulting in each carbon atom having four total bonds. Alkanes are considered saturated hydrocarbons because all the carbon atoms have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded to them. This means there are no double or triple bonds between carbon atoms that would allow the molecule to bond with additional hydrogen atoms. In other words, alkanes are "saturated" with hydrogen atoms.
02

Part (b): Determining if \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) is a Saturated Hydrocarbon

To determine if \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) is a saturated hydrocarbon, we can use the general formula for alkanes, which is \(C_nH_{2n+2}\). In this formula, n represents the number of carbon atoms in the compound. We have 4 carbon atoms in \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\). Plugging this into the formula, we get: \(C_4H_{2(4)+2} = C_4H_{10}\) Since the given hydrocarbon has a chemical formula of \(\mathrm{C}_{4} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) and not \(C_4H_{10}\), it is not an alkane and is, therefore, not a saturated hydrocarbon. This means that there must be double or triple bonds in the compound, allowing it to react with additional hydrogen atoms.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

In your own words, define the following terms: (a) carbohydrate, (b) monosaccharide, (c) disaccharide, (d) polysaccharide.

The structural formula for the linear form of D-mannose is (a) How many chiral carbons are present in the molecule? (b) Draw the structure of the six-member- ring form of this sugar.

Glutathione is a tripeptide found in most living cells. Partial hydrolysis yields Cys-Gly and Glu-Cys. What structures are possible for glutathione?

Why is geometric isomerism possible for alkenes but not for alkanes and alkynes?

What are the characteristic hybrid orbitals employed by (a) carbon in an alkane, (b) carbon in a double bond in an alkene, (c) carbon in the benzene ring, (d) carbon in a triple bond in an alkyne?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free