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Multiple Choice

Which statement explains why a saturated hydrocarbon has no multiple carbon bonds?

Saturation means all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds, which allows each carbon to attach the maximum number of hydrogens. In saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), every C–C bond is a single bond, so the molecule has the maximum hydrogen content for its carbon framework. If there were a double or triple C–C bond, two or four hydrogens would be lost, creating an unsaturated compound. Aromatic rings also involve pi bonds and delocalized electrons, which reduces the number of hydrogens compared with a fully saturated structure. So, having only single bonds between carbons explains why the hydrocarbon is saturated.

Saturation means all carbon–carbon bonds are single bonds, which allows each carbon to attach the maximum number of hydrogens. In saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), every C–C bond is a single bond, so the molecule has the maximum hydrogen content for its carbon framework. If there were a double or triple C–C bond, two or four hydrogens would be lost, creating an unsaturated compound. Aromatic rings also involve pi bonds and delocalized electrons, which reduces the number of hydrogens compared with a fully saturated structure. So, having only single bonds between carbons explains why the hydrocarbon is saturated.