Why is ethane () classified as a saturated hydrocarbon, whereas ethene () is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Ethane contains only single covalent bonds, whereas ethene contains a double bond
- Step 1: Recall definitions of hydrocarbon saturation: saturation refers to whether carbon atoms carry the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms.
- Step 2: In ethane (, an alkane), all carbon-carbon bonds are single covalent bonds (). In ethene (, an alkene), a carbon-carbon double covalent bond () exists, making it unsaturated.
Answer
Ethane contains only single covalent bonds, whereas ethene contains a double bond.
Why not the others: 'Ethane has a higher boiling point than ethene due to stronger ionic charges' is false as neither contains ionic charges; 'Ethane is synthesized by plants, whereas ethene is an artificial synthetic polymer' is incorrect as both are small petrochemical molecules; 'Ethane dissolves readily in polar water, whereas ethene is completely insoluble' is false as both are non-polar.
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