These terms refer to different types of organic compounds, particularly how the carbon atoms are connected and the degree of multiple bonds. An alkane, also known as a saturated hydrocarbon or parrafin has no double bonds at all. All carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds in an alkane. In an alkene or olefin, there is at least 1 double bond between carbons present in the compound. An alkyne continues the trend and has at least 1 carbon-carbon triple bond. Since there are no “quadruple bonds” for hydrocarbons, these are the 3 main categories of hydrocarbons. A cycle is a hydrocarbon that forms a ring, meaning that the carbons are bonded to each other to form a loop such as a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, or some other geometric shape.