What are alkenes and alkynes?

1 Answer
Aug 8, 2016

Alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated organic molecules.

Explanation:

A saturated hydrocarbon has a formula of CnH2n+2. Each 2 hydrogens less than this formula corresponds to a degree of unsaturation. A degree of unsaturation corresponds to a double bond (i.e. C=X) or a ring junction. Alkenes have 1 degree of unsaturation with respect to the corresponding alkane; and alkynes have 2 of unsaturation (because they have a triple bond).

And in summary, consider the general formulae:

CnH2n+2 alkanes

CnH2n alkenes

CnHn alkynes.