alleryStart learning →What makes a hydrocarbon a saturated compound?
AIt has one double bond
BIt has one triple bond
CIt has only single bonds
DIt has no carbon rings
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It has only single bonds
1. Saturated means the molecule already holds as many hydrogen atoms as it possibly can.
2. That happens only when every carbon to carbon bond is a single bond.
3. Each carbon is then bonded to four other atoms, with no room for more.
4. A double or triple bond leaves the molecule short of hydrogen atoms, so it becomes unsaturated.
5. Rings are a separate matter and do not decide whether a compound is saturated.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 4: Organic molecules_
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