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Saturated vs Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Definition, Differences, Examples  

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Definition of Saturated Hydrocarbons

Saturated hydrocarbons are the most basic types of hydrocarbons, consisting completely of single bonds that remain hydrogen-saturated.

  • Acyclic saturated hydrocarbons, often known as alkanes, have the general formula CnH2n+2The more general formula is CnH2n+2(1-r) , where r is the number of rings.
  • There are no double or triple bonds between the carbon atoms in saturated hydrocarbons, as well as all carbon atoms form four unique covalent bonds.
  • The name “saturated” refers to the structure’s saturation of hydrogen atoms, that makes them the simplest as well as least polar organic molecules.
  • Saturated hydrocarbons can be found in either a linear or branched form, depending on the structure’s complexity.
  • These hydrocarbons are found predominantly in petroleum products as well as other fossil fuels.
  • Since saturated hydrocarbons burn with a blue, non-sooty flame, they are employed as fuel in cars as well as other engines.
  • Saturated hydrocarbons exhibit the substitution process since they resist other reactions such as hydrogenation as well as oxidative addition.
  • In comparison to unsaturated hydrocarbons, saturated hydrocarbons have a lower carbon concentration since the number of hydrogen atoms is relatively high.
  • They’re also more stable as well as less reactive, as well as they can withstand nucleophile as well as electrophile attacks.
  • Saturated hydrocarbons are divided into two groups: acyclic alkanes as well as cycloalkanes.
  • Saturated hydrocarbons include methane, butane, propane, as well as cyclohexane, among others.

Definition of unsaturated hydrocarbons

Unsaturated hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons that have double or triple bonds between their carbon atoms.

  • Alkenes, that have the general formula CnH2n , are unsaturated hydrocarbons with double bonds, whereas alkynes, that have the general formula CnH2n-2 , are unsaturated hydrocarbons with triple bonds.
  • The word unsaturated refers to the fact that the molecules can be saturated by adding extra hydrogen atoms.
  • Unsaturated hydrocarbons, like saturated hydrocarbons, can be found in straight-chain linear, branched, or aromatic forms.
  • Since aromatic rings are created by the delocalization of double bonds between numerous carbon atoms, all aromatic hydrocarbons are unsaturated hydrocarbons.
  • Unsaturated hydrocarbons, with the exception of aromatic compounds, are more reactive as well as undergo numerous addition reactions on multiple bonds.
  • The degree of unsaturation, that is a measure of the amount of -bonds present in a molecule, can be used to express the unsaturation of hydrocarbons.
  • Since there are fewer hydrogen atoms in unsaturated hydrocarbons, they have a higher carbon concentration than saturated hydrocarbons.
  • Since unsaturated hydrocarbons have a lower hydrogen content, they produce a yellow flame, that reduces the flame’s moisture content.
  • Since unsaturated hydrocarbons, like most hydrocarbons, are non-polar, their structures are held together by a weak van der Waal’s attraction.
  • Unsaturated hydrocarbons have a distinct nomenclature than saturated hydrocarbons since the position of the double or triple bonds is indicated by adding numbers to the prefix.
  • Ethane, acetylene, benzene, butadiene, as well as other unsaturated hydrocarbons are examples.

Saturated vs Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Definition, Differences, Examples   

Key Differences between Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

(Saturated vs Unsaturated Hydrocarbons)

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Saturated Hydrocarbons Examples

Methane

  • Methane is the most basic aliphatic hydrocarbon, consisting of a single carbon atom bound to four hydrogen atoms in a single bond.
  • It has the chemical formula CH4 as well as is a saturated hydrocarbon with all four covalent bonds attached to four separate hydrogen atoms.
  • Methane is a simple hydrocarbon that burns with a pale blue flame that is mildly bright. It’s less combustible as well as more stable than other comparable chemicals.
  • In methane, all four carbon-hydrogen bonds have a bond length of 1.09 * 10 -10 as well as a bond angle of 109.5° . It has three sp3 hybridized orbitals as well as is a tetrahedral molecule.
  • Methane is a valuable fossil fuel that is widely used as a biogas for cooking. It’s also a key member of the greenhouse gas family, as well as it’s one of the main contributors to global warming.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons Examples

Acetylene

  • Acetylene, often known as ethyne, is a two-carbon unsaturated hydrocarbon having the formula C2H2.
  • It’s an alkyne with a triple carbon-to-carbon link as well as a single carbon-to-hydrogen covalent bond.
  • Since the carbon-carbon triple bond places all four atoms in the same straight line with a bond angle of 180°, the molecule has a linear structure.
  • One of the triple bonds is a -bond, while the other two are -bonds that are weaker.
  • Oxyacetylene gas welding as well as cutting provide about 20% of the total acetylene found in the environment.
  • Acetylene’s carbon-carbon triple bond is energy rich, allowing it to be employed as a good substrate for bacteria.

 

 

Saturated Hydrocarbons vs Unsaturated Hydrocarbons Citations 

  1. Gautam AD, Pant M and Adhikari NR (2017). Comprehensive Chemistry Part 2. Heritage Publishers and Distributors. Kathmandu, Nepal.
  2.  Methane” PubChem, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methane. Accessed 21 February, 2021.
  3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6326, Acetylene. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Acetylene. Accessed Apr. 8, 2021. 
  4. https://pediaa.com/difference-between-saturated-and-unsaturated-hydrocarbons/

 

 

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