Hydrocarbons

Other Uses

Raw material for organic commodity chemicals (solvents, polymers), lubricants, synthetic drugs

Composition

Organic compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms

Primary Use

Combustible fuel source (e.g., gasoline, natural gas, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel, propane, butane)

Economic Role

Fundamental to global energy production and powering modern economies

Classification

Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons

Characteristics

Generally colorless, hydrophobic, faint odor (similar to gasoline), highly combustible

Physical States

Gases (e.g., methane, propane), liquids (e.g., hexane, benzene), low melting solids (e.g., paraffin wax)

Environmental Impact

Combustion is the main source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide), methane release

In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.: 620 Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic; their odor is usually faint, and may be similar to that of gasoline or lighter fluid. They occur in a diverse range of molecular structures and phases: they can be gases (such as methane and propane), liquids (such as hexane and benzene), low melting solids (such as paraffin wax and [...] In the fossil fuel industries, hydrocarbon refers to naturally occurring petroleum, natural gas and coal, or their hydrocarbon derivatives and purified forms. Combustion of hydrocarbons is the main source of the world's energy. Petroleum is the dominant raw-material source for organic commodity chemicals such as solvents and polymers. Most anthropogenic (human-generated) emissions of greenhouse gases are either carbon dioxide released by the burning of fossil fuels, or methane released from the [...] The predominant use of hydrocarbons is as a combustible fuel source. Methane is the predominant component of natural gas. C6 through C10 alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons are the main components of gasoline, naphtha, jet fuel, and specialized industrial solvent mixtures. With the progressive addition of carbon units, the simple non-ring structured hydrocarbons have higher viscosities, lubricating indices, boiling points, and solidification temperatures. At the opposite

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming the backbone of organic chemistry. These compounds can exist as gases, liquids, or solids, depending on their molecular structure and size, with methane being the simplest and most abundant hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbons are significant sources of chemical energy and are utilized in various applications, including fuels like gasoline and natural gas, as well as in the production of lubricants and polymers. [...] Chemicals consisting of carbon chains of various lengths with hydrogens attached are called hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are sources of chemical energy and include many compounds. ## Overview

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are entirely made up of only two kinds of atoms – carbon and hydrogen. Typically, hydrocarbons are colourless gases that have very weak odours. Hydrocarbons can feature simple or relatively complex structures and can be generally classified into four subcategories, namely alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons. The study of hydrocarbons can provide insight into the chemical properties of other functional groups and their preparation. [...] Hydrocarbons are made up of the elements carbon and hydrogen. These compounds are dominant in crude oil, coal tar and waste products of pyrolysis. Q3 ### What are the characteristics of hydrocarbons? The characteristics of hydrocarbons are listed below: Hydrocarbons are colourless and odourless. They undergo a combustion reaction with oxygen giving carbon dioxide and water. Greater the number of carbons, the greater the melting point of hydrocarbons. Q4 [...] Furthermore, hydrocarbons such as propane and butane are used for commercial fuel purposes in the form of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Benzene, one of the simplest aromatic hydrocarbons, serves as the raw material for the synthesis of many synthetic drugs.

## What Is a Hydrocarbon? Hydrocarbons are organic compounds entirely made of two atoms: hydrogen and carbon. Typically, a hydrocarbon is colorless and almost odorless. It can form a simple to complex structure. Generally, hydrocarbons can be categorized into four types: alkanes, alkenes or olefins, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons. This compound has become one of the important components in industry.