As an expert in the field of organic chemistry, I can provide a comprehensive explanation of the structure and classification of hydrocarbons, specifically addressing whether ethane is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Step 1: Understanding Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are classified based on the type of bonding between the carbon atoms and the number of hydrogen atoms associated with each carbon atom. The classification is crucial as it determines the chemical properties and reactivity of the hydrocarbon.

Saturated Hydrocarbons (Alkanes):
Saturated hydrocarbons, also known as alkanes, have all their carbon atoms single-bonded to each other. This means that each carbon atom is bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, which is four for a saturated carbon. The general formula for alkanes is \( C_nH_{2n+2} \), where \( n \) represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons:
Unsaturated hydrocarbons are those that contain one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms. There are two main types of unsaturated hydrocarbons:

1. Alkenes: These have at least one carbon-carbon double bond (\( C=C \)) and follow the general formula \( C_nH_{2n} \). Each carbon involved in the double bond can only bond to two other hydrogen atoms, resulting in fewer hydrogen atoms than the maximum possible.

2. Alkynes: These contain at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (\( C\equiv C \)) and follow the general formula \( C_nH_{2n-2} \). The carbons in a triple bond can only bond to one hydrogen atom each, leading to even fewer hydrogen atoms than alkenes.

Step 2: Classification of Ethane

Ethane, with the molecular formula \( C_2H_6 \), fits the general formula for alkanes, \( C_nH_{2n+2} \). It has two carbon atoms, and each carbon atom is bonded to three hydrogen atoms, with a single bond between the two carbon atoms. There are no double or triple bonds present in the ethane molecule, which means it has the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible for a molecule with two carbon atoms.

Step 3: Comparison with Ethene

To further illustrate the difference, let's compare ethane with ethene, which is an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethene, with the molecular formula \( C_2H_4 \), has a double bond between the two carbon atoms. This double bond means that each carbon atom can only bond to two hydrogen atoms, resulting in four hydrogen atoms in total, which is two less than the maximum possible for two carbon atoms (six hydrogen atoms if they were all single-bonded).

Conclusion:
Based on the molecular structure and the classification criteria, ethane is a saturated hydrocarbon. It has the maximum number of hydrogen atoms for its carbon framework, with all carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds being single bonds. This saturation contributes to ethane's stability and relatively low reactivity compared to unsaturated hydrocarbons.

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Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. ... Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain multiple bonding and contain less than the maximum number of hydrogens per carbon. Ethane, C2H6, is an alkane and is an example of a saturated hydrocarbon. Ethene, C2H4, is an alkene and is an example of unsaturated hydrocarbon.Nov 24, 2015read more >>