What characteristic is typical of a saturated hydrocarbon?

A saturated hydrocarbon is characterized by the presence of only single bonds between carbon atoms. This means that each carbon atom is bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible, following the tetravalency rule, where carbon can form four bonds. The lack of multiple bonds (such as double or triple bonds) in saturated hydrocarbons contributes to their stability and reduces their reactivity compared to unsaturated hydrocarbons, which contain these bonds. This stability is a key reason why saturated hydrocarbons, like alkanes, are commonly found in a variety of natural sources, including fossil fuels.

In contrast, hydrocarbons with multiple bonds exhibit different chemical properties, including increased reactivity, which is not a characteristic of saturated hydrocarbons. Additionally, while some saturated hydrocarbons can be gases at room temperature, particularly the lower molecular weight ones like methane, this is not universally true, as larger saturated hydrocarbons can be liquids or solids. Thus, the defining feature of saturated hydrocarbons is their structural limitation to single bonds.