Alkanes
2 marks · NormalWhat are the two elements found in all alkanes? State why alkanes are described as saturated.
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Carbon and hydrogen. Alkanes are saturated because all their carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds.
Also accept: C and H; all bonds are single; Alkanes only have carbon and hydrogen, and no double or triple bonds
Common mistakes: Saying oxygen is present; Describing 'saturated' incorrectly
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · Names both carbon and hydrogen.
B2 · 1 mark · Explains that 'saturated' means only single bonds between carbon atoms.
Worked solution
Alkanes contain the elements carbon and hydrogen. They are called saturated because all the bonds between carbon atoms are single bonds.