Saturated and unsaturated compounds

As Unsaturated compounds are called organic chemical compounds whose molecular structure contains one or more carbon-carbon double or triple bonds. These may also be conjugated. Example, the unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkynes ). Many natural substances are unsaturated compounds. In contrast, saturated compounds are those organic chemical compounds in which all the bonds between carbon atoms are carbon-carbon single bonds.

History and characteristics

The term unsaturated compounds originally unsaturated hydrocarbons derived from their ability to carry out typical addition reactions which are not possible with the saturated compounds such as alkanes,:

Here also the only formally unsaturated aromatics different from the other unsaturated compounds: Due to the high stability of the aromatic system, these do not lead the typical addition reactions or only under extreme conditions such as high temperature or high pressure. Instead, substitution reactions are preferred.

Properties

Unsaturated compounds are generally more reactive than saturated compounds. Triglycerides (rapeseed oil, linseed oil, olive oil, etc.) with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids are rancid faster than those with a high proportion of saturated fatty acids, such as in coconut oil.

Examples

Unsaturated hydrocarbons

• Alkenes, polyenes, terpenes
• Alkynes
• Only formally unsaturated, aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, naphthalene, etc.

Unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and esters

• Ascorbic acid, acetylformoin, bombykol, retinol
• Citronellal, crotonaldehyde, E160e, furfural, retinal, Safranal
• Abscisic acid, anthrone, cyclohexenone
• Unsaturated fatty acids
• Many fats

• Chemical Bonding
• Substance Group