Hydrogen number




butane

 
2-methylpropane
 
Carbon forms four bonds in all of its stable compounds.

The structures of alkanes at the right show that singly-bonded carbons
at the end of the chain are also bonded to three hydrogens

bonded to two carbons in the chain are also bonded to two hydrogens.

bonded to three carbons at a branch in the chain are also bonded to one hydrogen.

Alkenes are compounds that have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds.
 
There are fewer hydrogens at carbon atoms that are in a double bond because these carbons atoms have more bonds to carbon. 

As shown by the alkene structures below, doubly-bonded carbon(s)
at the end of a chain have two bonds to the adjacent carbon and two bonds to hydrogen.
in the middle of a chain have three bonds to adjacent carbons and one bond to hydrogen.
at a branch have four bonds to adjacent carbons and no hydrogens.
 
but-1-enebut-2-ene
methylpropene