| Themes > Science > Chemistry > Organic Chemistry > Determination of Structure > Degree of Unsaturation > Alcohols and Ethers: (Compounds of C, H, O) |
n-Butane has no degrees of unsaturation. If we mentally insert an oxygen atom into a C-H bond we will have an alcohol, either 1-butanol or 2-butanol. Both compounds have zero degrees of unsaturation (no multiple bonds or rings). If the oxygen atom were inserted in a C-C bond of n-butane, ethers would be formed, both of which have zero degrees of unsaturation. Thus, ignore oxygen atoms in a formula when calculating a degree of unsaturation. Since sulfur is also divalent, ignore it also. |
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