Algonquin College Health Program Assessment (AC-HPAT) Practice Exam

An alkyne is defined as:

1. A saturated hydrocarbon

2. An unsaturated hydrocarbon with at least one carbon-carbon double bond

3. An unsaturated hydrocarbon with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond

4. A compound with a benzene ring structure

The correct answer is: An unsaturated hydrocarbon with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond

An alkyne is defined as an unsaturated hydrocarbon that contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. This characteristic is what distinguishes alkynes from other types of hydrocarbons. Unlike saturated hydrocarbons, which contain only single bonds and are fully "saturated" with hydrogen atoms, alkynes have fewer hydrogen atoms due to the presence of the triple bond. This triple bond introduces a degree of unsaturation, meaning that these compounds have the potential to react in ways that saturated hydrocarbons cannot. The presence of the triple bond in alkynes makes them important in various organic reactions, as they can undergo additions and other chemical transformations. In contrast, other categories of hydrocarbons, such as saturated hydrocarbons (which only have single bonds) and those with double bonds (alkenes), do not fit the specific definition of alkynes. Understanding these classifications is essential for recognizing the unique properties and behaviors of different hydrocarbons in organic chemistry.