Why alkanes are said to be saturated

[recon]

In my chemistry class today, the teacher gave us a quiz. There was this one question that asked why alkane is said to be saturated. My answer was that only substitution reactions can take place and not additional reactions. I found it surprising that it did not score at all. Can anyone tell me where I went wrong?

Thanks,
From the person who is too shy to talk to the teacher

 

[NaD]

Here's a link that might answer your question:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/organic/alkane.html

To quote:

They are called saturated hydrocarbons because there is a hydrogen in every possible location.

I haven't taken Chem for a long time now, so I'm not 100% sure if that's the correct justification, but I *think* it is.

 

[M98Ranger]

Your answer was correct, so it is possible that there was a mistake in the grading of your quiz or that the question was poorly worded. Alkanes are indeed considered saturated because they contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded to each carbon atom. This means that there are no additional bonds available for other atoms to attach to, making them unable to undergo addition reactions. It is important to discuss this with your teacher to clarify any confusion and ensure that your quiz grade accurately reflects your understanding. Don't be shy - asking questions and seeking clarification is an important part of learning.