- saturated h. a h. that contains the greatest possible number of hydrogen atoms, so that the molecule contains neither rings nor multiple bonds.
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hy·dro·car·bon -'kär-bən n an organic compound (as acetylene, benzene, or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens
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hy·dro·car·bon (hiґdro-kahr″bən) an organic compound that contains carbon and hydrogen only. The hydrocarbons are divided into alicyclic, aliphatic, and aromatic hydrocarbons, according to the arrangement of the atoms and the chemical properties of the compounds.Medical dictionary. 2011.