Hydrocarbon
a molecule that contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are the building blocks of many organic molecules, including petroleum, natural gas, and plastics.
There are two main types of hydrocarbons: aliphatic and aromatic. Aliphatic hydrocarbons consist of straight chains or branched chains of carbon atoms, while aromatic hydrocarbons contain a ring of carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.
Hydrocarbons are classified based on their physical properties and chemical structure. For example, alkanes are a type of aliphatic hydrocarbon that have only single bonds between carbon atoms. This makes them saturated and relatively unreactive. Alkenes, on the other hand, have at least one double bond between carbon atoms, making them unsaturated and more reactive.
Many important industrial processes rely on hydrocarbons, such as the production of fuels, lubricants, and plastics. However, hydrocarbons also contribute to air pollution and global warming when they are burned for energy. As a result, there is ongoing research and development to find alternatives to hydrocarbons that are less harmful to the environment.
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