What type of chemical compound is Propane (C4H10)?

Propane (C3H8) is accurately classified as a saturated hydrocarbon. Saturated hydrocarbons are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms, with single bonds between the carbon atoms, which means they are fully "saturated" with hydrogen.

In the case of propane, it consists of three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms; there are no double or triple bonds present. This characteristic is a hallmark of saturated hydrocarbons. Understanding that propane is saturated is crucial as it impacts its physical and chemical properties, such as its stability and reactivity compared to unsaturated hydrocarbons, which contain double or triple bonds.

The classification of propane as a heavy or light hydrocarbon would depend on its molecular weight, but the term 'saturated hydrocarbon' more accurately describes its structure and bonding. Similarly, aromatic hydrocarbons consist of rings of carbon atoms with delocalized electrons, which does not apply to propane's structure.