Final answer:
An alkyne is a hydrocarbon with one or more carbon-carbon triple covalent bonds. It is similar to alkenes in terms of physical and chemical properties. Acetylene, the simplest alkyne, is commonly used in oxyacetylene torches for cutting and welding metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
An alkyne is a hydrocarbon with one or more carbon-carbon triple covalent bonds. The simplest alkyne consists of two carbon atoms and is called ethyne (common name: acetylene).
The IUPAC nomenclature for alkynes is similar to that for alkenes except that the suffix -yne is used to indicate a triple bond in the chain. For example, CH3CH₂C = CH is called 1-butyne.
Alkynes are similar to alkenes in both physical and chemical properties. They undergo many of the typical addition reactions of alkenes. Alkynes are used less commonly compared to alkenes and alkanes, but the first member, acetylene, is used in oxyacetylene torches for cutting and welding metals.