What are saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons? Is CnHn×2+2 is applicable to all hydro carbons or only petrochemicals. Please answer so that a 9 standard student could understand

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 26, 2018

Look at the general formula of an alkane....#C_nH_(2n+2)#

Explanation:

Any hydrocarbon whose formula meets that criterion#"....methane, ethane, propane"#...is A SATURATED ALKANE, i.e. #CH_4#, #H_3C-CH_3#, #H_3C-CH_2CH_3#....#CH_4#, #H_3C-CH_3#, #H_3C-CH_2CH_3#...if we substitute heteroatoms, halogens count for ONE hydrogen, oxygens do not count for anything, and if there is a nitrogen in the formula, we SUBTRACT #NH# from the formula before assessing this #"so-called degree of unsaturation"#.

Also see this old answer.

And this assessment procedure APPLIES to all organic formulae, and this is the first step we should do when we are given an organic formula....how many rings; how many double bonds etc; how many degrees of unsaturation?

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