Introduction to hydrocarbons
This is an organic (naturally occuring) chemical compound formed by hydrogen and carbon atoms. Examples include - crude oil, natural gas, coal, and other essential energy sources.
Understanding Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons occur from plant and animal fossils over millennia. They are mostly found deep underground in porous rock formations. Porous rock formations are usually found in large bodies of water, so there is a large amount of hydrocarbons trapped deep underneath the oceans. Oil and natural gas exploration companies make use of advanced engineering methods to recognise these potential reservoirs and draw their resources to the surface for human use. Examples of such technologies involve offshore oil platforms, directional drilling, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques.
Classification And Types Of Hydrocarbons
Older chemists classified hydrocarbons as aliphatic or aromatic. The classification was done based on the source and properties.
Types Of Hydrocarbons
Saturated Hydrocarbons: In these compounds, carbon-hydrogen atoms and carbon-carbon atoms are held together by single bonds. These single-bonded compounds are the simplest hydrocarbons. These kinds of hydrocarbons don’t have double or triple bonds. In terms of hybridisation, they have Sp3 hybridised carbon atom with no Sp2 or Sp hybridised Carbon atoms. They are together called alkanes which have a general formula CnH2n+2—for example, CH4C3H6.
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: These compounds contain a single, double or triple bond between carbon-carbon atoms. The double-bonded compounds are named alkenes, and the triple bonded compounds as alkynes. General formula for alkenes is known to be CnH2n, for alkynes,it is CnH2n-2.
Cycloalkanes: These hydrocarbons hold one or multiple carbon rings. The hydrogen atom is joined to the carbon ring.
Aromatic Hydrocarbons: These are also known as arenes. Arenes are compounds that consist of atleast one aromatic ring.
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: They are straight-chain structures holding no rings in them.
Alicyclic Hydrocarbons: They are hydrocarbons holding a ring structure in them. These carbons atoms can be Sp, Sp2 or even Sp3 hybridised.
Uses Of Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are widely used as fuels.
They are utilised in the manufacturing of polymers like polyethene, polystyrene etc.
These organic compounds get their application in the manufacturing of drugs and dyes as a starting material.
They act as lubricating oil and grease.
