What is the general formula for an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing a carbon-carbon double bond?

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Multiple Choice

What is the general formula for an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing a carbon-carbon double bond?

Explanation:
When a hydrocarbon is not fully saturated, it has fewer hydrogens than the corresponding alkane. An alkane with n carbons is CnH2n+2. A double bond between carbons removes two hydrogens, so an open-chain molecule with one C=C bond has the formula CnH2n. This matches common alkenes like ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6). If the molecule also contains a ring, the hydrogen count is even lower (CnH2n−2 for cycloalkenes), but for a typical open-chain unsaturated hydrocarbon with one double bond, the formula is CnH2n.

When a hydrocarbon is not fully saturated, it has fewer hydrogens than the corresponding alkane. An alkane with n carbons is CnH2n+2. A double bond between carbons removes two hydrogens, so an open-chain molecule with one C=C bond has the formula CnH2n. This matches common alkenes like ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6). If the molecule also contains a ring, the hydrogen count is even lower (CnH2n−2 for cycloalkenes), but for a typical open-chain unsaturated hydrocarbon with one double bond, the formula is CnH2n.

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