Which of the following is an example of a saturated hydrocarbon compound?

A saturated hydrocarbon compound is one in which all the carbon atoms are connected by single bonds, allowing for the maximum number of hydrogen atoms to bond to each carbon. Ethane fits this definition perfectly, as it consists of two carbon atoms connected by a single bond and has six hydrogen atoms attached (C2H6). This structure allows it to be fully saturated with hydrogen, meaning there are no double or triple bonds present.

On the other hand, propylene, butene, and acetylene contain either double or triple bonds, indicating that they are unsaturated hydrocarbons. Unsaturated hydrocarbons can incorporate fewer hydrogen atoms compared to their saturated counterparts due to the presence of these multiple bonds. Thus, they do not conform to the definition of a saturated hydrocarbon like ethane does.