Question

explain the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated carbon-containing molecule.

Answer 1

In saturated hydrocarbons all hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms are bonded together with single bonds.But in case of unsaturated hydrocarbons, they have double or even triple bonds between the carbon atoms. Because of this unsaturated hydrocarbons are more reactive than saturated hydrocarbons.

Example of saturated hydrocarbons are as follows,Alkanes,Cycloalkanesetc.

Examples of unsaturated hydrocarbons are as follows,Alkenes,Alkynes,Aromatic hydrocarbons etc.

Unsaturated solution can dissolve more solute.If there is a little bit of solute left that has not dissolved completely in the solvent, which is called saturated.But in case of unsaturated, if there were more solute to put in an unsaturated solvent it would absorb more solute.

Saturated compounds are generally more stable and less reactive than unsaturated compounds since no steric hindrances and no major polarity differences occur. In addition, they have very low melting and boiling pointsrelative to their molar mass.

Unsaturated compounds are generally more reactive than saturated compounds. Triglycerides (rapeseed oil, linseed oil, olive oil, etc.) with a high content of unsaturated fatty acid residues turn more rapidly rancid than those with a high proportion of saturated fatty acid residues ,as for example coconut fat.