Hydrocarbon

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A hydrocarbon is a type of chemical compound. It is made of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. Usually they can be found in crude oil and are separated by fractional distillation (which means they are separated into different groups)

Contents 1 Hydrocarbon "Families" 1.1 Alkanes 1.2 Alkenes 1.3 Alkynes 1.4 Cycloalkanes 1.5 Alkadiene

[change] Hydrocarbon "Families"

Hydrocarbons are grouped into "families" or "homologous series". There are five main families. The hydrocarbons in each family have a general formula and similar physical and chemical properties.

[change] Alkanes

Main article: Alkane

Alkanes are the simplest hydrocarbons. Their general formula is C_nH_2n+2.

[change] Alkenes

Main article: Alkene

Alkenes are similar to alkanes. The main difference between them is that alkenes have a carbon to carbon double bond. The general formula for the alkenes is C_nH_2n.

[change] Alkynes

Main article: Alkyne

Alkynes have a carbon to carbon triple bond. C_nH_2n-2 is their general formula.

[change] Cycloalkanes

Main article: Cycloalkane

Cycloalkanes are isomers of alkenes. They have the same general formula (C_nH_2n), the only difference is that they do not have a carbon to carbon double bond.

[change] Alkadiene

Main article: Alkadiene

Alkadienes have two carbon to carbon double bonds. Their general formula is C_nH_2n-2. They are isomers of Alkynes.