What is the basic characteristic of a saturated hydrocarbon?

A saturated hydrocarbon is defined by the presence of only single bonds between carbon atoms, maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can be attached. This structure means that each carbon atom is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible without the formation of double or triple bonds. Saturated hydrocarbons, such as alkanes, have the general formula CnH2n+2, indicating that they are fully saturated with hydrogen.

The other options describe characteristics that do not apply to saturated hydrocarbons. For instance, the presence of double bonds indicates unsaturation, which is a hallmark of alkenes and alkynes, not saturated alkanes. Aromatic compounds contain a different structure with alternating double bonds in a ring formation, which does not relate to saturation. Furthermore, many functional groups introduce unsaturation or change the hydrocarbon nature, rendering it non-saturated if the groups include double or triple bonds. Thus, the fundamental characteristic of a saturated hydrocarbon remains its exclusive use of single bonds.