What is the general formula for alkynes?

The general formula for alkynes is represented as CnH2n-2. Alkynes are hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (C≡C). The formula reflects the structure of alkynes, showing how the presence of triple bonds decreases the number of hydrogen atoms compared to alkenes (which have double bonds) and alkanes (which have only single bonds).

In the formula CnH2n-2, ‘n’ represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. The '2n' part indicates that for each pair of carbon atoms, there are typically two hydrogen atoms. However, since alkynes have a triple bond, which requires more bonding between carbon atoms, they have two fewer hydrogen atoms than alkanes, leading to the subtraction of 2 in the formula.

This characteristic sets alkynes apart and is crucial for understanding their reactivity and properties compared to other types of hydrocarbons, such as alkenes and alkanes, which are represented by different formulas.