Saturated & Unsaturated Compounds (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Chemistry)
Revision Note
Written by: Alexandra Brennan
Reviewed by: Stewart Hird
Saturated & unsaturated Compounds
Saturated compounds have molecules in which all carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds
Examples of compounds that are saturated are alkanes
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2
Alkanes contain only carbon-carbon single bonds so are saturated
Unsaturated compounds consist of molecules in which one or more carbon-carbon bonds are not single bonds
They contain carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C)
Examples of compounds that are unsaturated are alkenes.
Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with the general formula is CnH2n
The presence of the double bond, C=C, means they can make more bonds with other atoms by opening up the C=C bond and allowing incoming atoms to form another single bond with each carbon atom of the functional group
Each of these carbon atoms now forms 4 single bonds instead of 1 double and 2 single bonds
Alkenes contain one carbon-carbon double bond so are unsaturated
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember: Saturated compounds have Single bonds only. Unsaturated compounds have doUble bonds
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