What type of bond constitutes a saturated hydrocarbon?

A saturated hydrocarbon is defined by having only single bonds between carbon atoms. This type of hydrocarbon includes all carbon atoms fully saturated with hydrogen atoms, meaning that there are no double or triple bonds present. The presence of only single bonds allows for the maximum number of hydrogen atoms to be attached to the carbon skeleton.

In contrast, double and triple bonds, which are found in unsaturated hydrocarbons, reduce the number of hydrogen atoms that can bond with the carbon atoms, leading to the formation of compounds such as alkenes and alkynes. Hydrogen bonds, which are interactions between hydrogen atoms and electronegative atoms like nitrogen or oxygen, do not constitute a bond type within hydrocarbons themselves. Ionic bonds, resulting from the transfer of electrons between atoms, are characteristic of salt formation rather than hydrocarbons. Thus, single bonds only are the hallmark of saturated hydrocarbons.