what are hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that consist of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas, and they serve as fuels, lubricants, and raw materials for the production of plastics, fibers, rubbers, solvents, explosives, and industrial chemicals. Hydrocarbons can be classified into two types: aliphatic and aromatic. Aliphatic hydrocarbons are divided into three main groups according to the types of bonds they contain: alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. Alkanes have only single bonds, alkenes contain a carbon-carbon double bond, and alkynes contain a carbon-carbon triple bond. Aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene. Hydrocarbons are widely used as fuels, such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), and they are used in the manufacturing of polymers, drugs, and dyes.