What does the term 'saturated' refer to in chemistry?

In chemistry, the term 'saturated' specifically refers to a molecule that contains only single bonds between its carbon atoms. This means that each carbon atom is bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. Saturated hydrocarbons, such as alkanes, conform to this structure. The presence of only single bonds prevents the molecule from incorporating any additional atoms or multiple bonds, thereby fulfilling the criteria of saturation in organic compounds.

The other options don't accurately capture the concept of saturation in the context of chemical bonding. For instance, molecules containing double bonds (the first option) or a mixture of various compounds (the last option) do not align with the definition of saturated compounds. Similarly, a molecule that can hold more solute (the third option) is related to solubility rather than the saturation of chemical bonds in organic molecules.