Final answer:
Olefins correspond to alkenes, which are reactive hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon double bond, differing from other hydrocarbon classes like alkanes, alkynes, and aromatic compounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general class of compounds also known as olefins is alkenes. Olefins, or alkenes, are hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) in their molecular structure. These unsaturated compounds are more reactive than alkanes, which contain only single bonds.
Alkenes are capable of undergoing addition reactions due to the presence of this double bond. The reactivity of alkenes is a key difference from alkynes, which contain a triple bond, and aromatic compounds, which include a distinct structure characterized by a benzene ring.