Question

Name the compound ${\mathrm{CH}}_3-{\mathrm{CH}}_2-{\mathrm{CH}}_2-{\mathrm{CH}}_3$. Is it saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon?

Answer 1

Step 1: Introduction

Saturated hydrocarbon is the subpart of hydrocarbon that has Carbon-Carbon and Carbon-Hydrogen atoms that are only connected through a single bond.

Unsaturated hydrocarbon is the subpart of hydrocarbon that has Carbon-Hydrogen atoms that are connected through single bonds but the Carbon-Carbon atoms are connected to double or triple bonds.

So, ${\mathrm{CH}}_3-{\mathrm{CH}}_2-{\mathrm{CH}}_2-{\mathrm{CH}}_3$ compound contains only single bond between Carbon-Carbon atom.

Hence, this compound is a saturated hydrocarbon.

Step 2: Determination of root word:

Select the longest continuous chain with the maximum number of Carbon atoms.

Here, the chain has four Carbon atoms, so the word root is “But”.

Step 3: Determination of pre suffix:

The compound is saturated. So the suffix is “ane”.

So, add all terms But + ane.

Thus, the final name of the compound is Butane.