Contain carbon-to-carbon double or triple bonds.
The compounds that contain carbon-to-carbon double or triple bonds are known as unsaturated hydrocarbons
The compounds that contain carbon-to-carbon double or triple bonds are known as unsaturated hydrocarbons. These compounds differ from saturated hydrocarbons, which only have single bonds between carbon atoms. The presence of double or triple bonds in unsaturated hydrocarbons introduces a level of reactivity and flexibility to these compounds.
Unsaturated hydrocarbons can be broadly categorized into two groups: alkenes and alkynes. Alkenes have one or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds, while alkynes have one or more carbon-to-carbon triple bonds.
Alkenes have the general formula CnH2n, where “n” represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. The carbon-to-carbon double bond in alkenes consists of a sigma bond and a pi bond. The pi bond allows for the rotation around the double bond, giving alkenes the ability to undergo chemical reactions such as addition reactions. Examples of alkenes include ethene (C2H4), propene (C3H6), and butene (C4H8).
Alkynes have the general formula CnH2n-2, where “n” represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. The carbon-to-carbon triple bond in alkynes consists of a sigma bond and two pi bonds. The presence of the triple bond makes alkynes even more reactive than alkenes. Alkynes can undergo reactions such as addition reactions, elimination reactions, and even polymerization. Examples of alkynes include ethyne (acetylene, C2H2) and propyne (C3H4).
The presence of double or triple bonds in unsaturated hydrocarbons gives these compounds unique chemical and physical properties compared to saturated hydrocarbons. Their reactivity makes them useful in various industrial applications, such as in the production of plastics, synthetic rubbers, and pharmaceuticals. Understanding the chemistry of unsaturated hydrocarbons is crucial in fields such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science.
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