What are alkenes and alkynes?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 8, 2016

Alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated organic molecules.

Explanation:

A saturated hydrocarbon has a formula of #C_nH_(2n+2)#. Each #"2 hydrogens"# less than this formula corresponds to a degree of unsaturation. A degree of unsaturation corresponds to a double bond (i.e. #C=X#) or a ring junction. Alkenes have #1^@# degree of unsaturation with respect to the corresponding alkane; and alkynes have #2^@# of unsaturation (because they have a triple bond).

And in summary, consider the general formulae:

#C_nH_(2n+2)# #"alkanes"#

#C_nH_(2n)# #"alkenes"#

#C_nH_(n)# #"alkynes"#.

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