Saturated/unsaturated

[shinny]

Ive often seen saturated compounds defined as either ones which have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon chain, or ones which have no carbon-carbon double and triple bonds.

in the case of say...1-chloropropane, is this still classified as a saturated compound given that theres no double/triple bonds, or isnt it because there isnt technically the maximum number of hydrogens? i assume that it is still saturated, so does this technically make the definition about hydrogen atoms incorrect?

[chem-nerd]

yes this would still be classed as saturated as saturation/unsaturation is related to the C-C bonds. The 'maximum number of H atoms' definiton comes about because we are often using it to define hydrocarbons.

[bec]

so what about something like glycerol? it has no C to C double bonds, and yet it "doesn't contain a saturated hydrocarbon chain" according to neap. so would you say that it is saturated, but just not a hydrocarbon, since it contains oxygen?

[doboman]

not a hydrocarbon