EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -All four valencies of each carbon atom of the alkane molecule are bonded with either hydrogen atoms, carbon atoms or both by single covalent bonds, indicating that each carbon skeleton of an alkane is fully saturated. Hence, alkanes are known as saturated hydrocarbons.

Detailed explanation-2: -Saturated hydrocarbons are called paraffins, a name derived from the Latin parum affinis, which means slight affinity. Paraffins or alkanes are trace constituents of biological lipids, but alkanes are the most stable and abundant hydrocarbon constituents of terrestrial rocks.

Detailed explanation-3: -Alkenes are the homologous series of saturated hydrocarbons.

Detailed explanation-4: -Alkanes, hydrocarbons in which all the bonds are single, have molecular formulas that satisfy the general expression CnH2n + 2 (where n is an integer).

Detailed explanation-5: -They are called saturated because each carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible. In other words, the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen. Saturated hydrocarbons are given the general name of alkanes.