Basics

• What is a hydrocarbon?

  A compound made only of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
• What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons?

  • Saturated hydrocarbons: have single bonds only
  • unsaturated hydrocarbons: contain at least one double or triple bond.
• What is a homologous series?

  A family of organic compounds with similar properties and the same general formula.