Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. Alkenes, on the other hand, contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, making them unsaturated. Alkynes contain one or more triple bonds between carbon atoms, also making them unsaturated.
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Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are types of hydrocarbons, differing in their carbon-carbon bond structures. Alkanes consist of only single bonds between carbon atoms, forming a saturated hydrocarbon. Alkenes contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, introducing unsaturation and reactivity. Alkynes have at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, further increasing unsaturation and chemical reactivity. The presence of double or triple bonds in alkenes and alkynes allows for additional reactions and diverse molecular structures compared to the saturated, single-bonded alkanes. These distinctions in bond types contribute to variations in physical properties, reactivity, and applications in organic chemistry.