Re: What is the meaning of 'saturated' with hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbon?

If the hydrocarbon chain has no double bonds, triple 
bonds or rings the formula will be in the form CnH2n+2, which means that 
for every carbon there will be two hydrogen atoms and then there will be 
two more hydrogen atoms in the formula.  In this case the hydrocarbon is 
said to be saturated.  The following are examples of the formulas of 
saturated hydrocarbons;  C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, C5H12........C10H22 etc.  The 
word "saturated" (meaning "holding as much as possible) is used because 
the formula has the maximum number of hydrogens for the number of carbon 
atoms in the formula.  For every C-C double bond put into a hydrocarbon 
that was saturated, two hydrogens must be lost.  So putting a double bond 
in C2H6 (ethane) gives C2H4 (ethylene or ethene).  For every C-C triple 
bond inserted into a saturated hydrocarbon, 4 hydrogen atoms must be 
lost.  C2H6 (ethane) would become C2H2 (acetylene or ethyne).  Compounds 
containing double bonds are said to be unsaturated (not holding as much H 
as possible).  The more double or triple bonds in a hydrocarbon molecule, 
the more unsaturated is the molecule. I hope that this answers your 
question.  For more information or a clarification, contact me at 
jtfranzen@fuse.net.