Why are saturated hydrocarbon generally less reactive than unsaturated hydrocarbons?

Answer 1

due to the presence of double or triple bonds, unsaturated compounds are generally more reactive.

saturated compounds do not have double or triple bond and are less reactive.

Answer 2

Saturated hydrocarbons have only sigma bonds, which are very stable and hard to break. Unsaturated hydrocarbons have [usually one - and often two or three-] pi [Carbon=Carbon double] bonds, and they are weaker. They deform the orbitals slightly and are more strained. Therefore, they are easier to break and will react faster.

Answer 3

Unsaturated hydrocarbons will react with substances such as bromine (this is why you can test if it unsaturated by adding bromine water). This is because it has a double carbon-carbon bond which breaks down to form a single carbon-carbon bond and a carbon-bromine bond. (it does not neccessarily have to be bromine, but this is an easy example).

Saturated hydrocarbons will not react with bromine.

Answer 4

an unsaturated hydrocarbon has either more or less hydrogens than usual. Unsaturated compounds also have a degree of unsaturation which is the number of hydrogens in the atom dividede by 2.

Answer 5

bcas unsaturated one is unstable than the saturated one