Ketones Saturation: Acetone CH3COCH3

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The discussion revolves around the classification of acetone as a saturated or unsaturated compound, particularly in the context of a chemistry exam question regarding hydrogen reactions. Participants express confusion over the official answer, which states that one mole of hydrogen is required to react with acetone to form a saturated compound, while others argue that acetone should be considered saturated due to its carbon structure. The conversation highlights the concept of saturation primarily concerning carbon-carbon bonds and the degree of unsaturation in acetone, which is noted to be one, indicating the presence of a double bond. The debate centers on whether the formation of a secondary alcohol from acetone upon hydrogenation qualifies as producing a saturated compound, with some participants finding the exam question and its answer unclear.
Nader AbdlGhani
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Are ketones saturated ? for example , Acetone ( CH3COCH3 ) my question is aroused by a question in the General Secondary Education Certificate Chemistry exam here in Egypt , as the question there was : How many moles of hydrogen molecules are required to react with one mole of : 1) Acetone. 2) Biphenyl. to obtain a saturated compound , the problem is with the Acetone not the Biphenyl of course .
 
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I would not apply term "saturated" to other bonds than carbon-carbon ones (so I would consider acetone to be saturated). That doesn't stop it from reacting with hydrogen and producing a saturated alkane.
 
Borek said:
I would not apply term "saturated" to other bonds than carbon-carbon ones (so I would consider acetone to be saturated). That doesn't stop it from reacting with hydrogen and producing a saturated alkane.
That's what has come in my mind during the exam , and I wrote 0 hydrogen moles , but when I saw the ministry of education's official model answer they wrote 1 mole for acetone and 6 moles for diphenyl , and won't it (acetone) form secondary alcohol when it reacts with hydrogen ?
 
I think the question is a bit confusing. At the same time the answer given is hardly incorrect - secondary alcohol is a saturated compound, so 1 mole is enough.
 
Borek said:
I think the question is a bit confusing. At the same time the answer given is hardly incorrect - secondary alcohol is a saturated compound, so 1 mole is enough.
So the last answer is ? and can I know what is your educational background ?
 
When going from a chemical formula (e.g. CH3COCH3) to a structural formula, it is often useful to calculate the degree of unsaturation, which tells you how many pi bonds/rings are present in the compound. Acetone has a degree of unsaturation of 1, indicating that there is one double bond or ring in the molecule.
 
Ygggdrasil said:
When going from a chemical formula (e.g. CH3COCH3) to a structural formula, it is often useful to calculate the degree of unsaturation, which tells you how many pi bonds/rings are present in the compound. Acetone has a degree of unsaturation of 1, indicating that there is one double bond or ring in the molecule.
Well , thanks but that's so confusing ...
 
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