Compounds with carbon-carbon single bonds are referred to as saturated because each carbon atom forms the maximum number of single bonds, saturating its valence shell with the maximum number of atoms. In saturated compounds, such as alkanes, each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms or groups, resulting in a tetrahedral arrangement. This saturation with single bonds ensures that the carbon atoms are fully “saturated” with the maximum number of attached atoms or groups. The term reflects the stability and lack of reactivity associated with these compounds, as they have achieved a fully saturated or complete valence electron configuration.