Hydrocarbons are organic chemical compounds that consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas, and serve as fuels, lubricants, and raw materials for the production of plastics, fibers, rubbers, solvents, explosives, and industrial chemicals. Hydrocarbons can be classified into different types based on their structure and properties. Some of the common types of hydrocarbons include:
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Alkanes: These are hydrocarbons that have only single bonds between carbon atoms. The simplest alkane is methane (CH4), and each successive member of the series has one more carbon atom than the preceding member. Alkanes are saturated, meaning they contain the maximum number of hydrogens per carbon and no double or triple bonds.
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Alkenes: These are hydrocarbons that contain a carbon-carbon double bond. The simplest alkene is ethene (C2H4) .
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Alkynes: These are hydrocarbons that contain a carbon-carbon triple bond. The simplest alkyne is ethyne (C2H2) .
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Aromatic hydrocarbons: These are hydrocarbons that contain a ring of atoms with alternating double bonds. The simplest aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene (C6H6) .
Hydrocarbons can be found in natural gas and crude oil, and are extracted from natural gas at processing plants and when crude oil is refined into petroleum products. They can also be synthesized in the laboratory using various chemical reactions. Hydrocarbons are widely used as fuels, in the manufacturing of polymers, drugs, and dyes, and in many other applications.
