Question

A carbon compound P has six carbon atoms and twelve hydrogen atoms.

(a) Is P a saturated or unsaturated carbon compound. Justify your answer by drawing the structural formula.

(b) Describe a test that can be used to determine if compound P is saturated or unsaturated.

(c) Name the products that are formed on burning compound P in an excess of air.

Answer 1

(a) Compound P may be either saturated or unsaturated.

saturated compound: cyclohexane 

unsaturated compound: 2-hexene

(b) burning the compound in an excess of air will produce a sooty flame if it is unsaturated and a clean flame if it is saturated 

(c) carbon dioxide and water