Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are a fundamental class of organic compounds composed solely of

carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms. They are the building blocks of life and play a
crucial role in various industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, and plastics.

Properties of Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons exhibit a range of physical and chemical properties depending on their
structure and composition. Some notable properties include:

Melting and Boiling Points: Hydrocarbons generally have low melting and boiling
points due to weak intermolecular forces. The melting and boiling points increase
with the number of carbon atoms.

Solubility: Hydrocarbons are typically insoluble in water due to their nonpolar nature.
They are more soluble in nonpolar solvents such as oils and organic solvents.

Combustion: Hydrocarbons are combustible and readily burn in air, releasing energy
in the form of heat and light. This property is essential for their use as fuels.

Classification of Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons can be categorized into several groups based on their structural features
and properties. The primary classification includes:

Alkanes: These are saturated hydrocarbons with only single bonds between carbon
atoms. They are generally colorless, odorless, and non-reactive. Examples include
methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8).

Alkenes: Alkenes possess at least one double bond between carbon atoms. They are
often more reactive than alkanes and have characteristic odors. Examples include
ethene (C2H4), propene (C3H6), and butene (C4H8).

Alkynes: Alkynes contain at least one triple bond between carbon atoms. They are
generally more reactive than alkenes and alkanes. Examples include ethyne (C2H2),
propyne (C3H4), and butyne (C4H6).

Arenes: Arenes are hydrocarbons with a ring of six carbon atoms that is connected by
alternating single and double bonds. They are very stable and unreactive. Arenes are
found in coal tar and are used to make dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals
 Examples:

Alkanes:

 Methane (CH4)
 Ethane (C2H6)
 Propane (C3H8)
 Butane (C4H10)
 Pentane (C5H12)

Alkenes:

 Ethene (C2H4)
 Propene (C3H6)
 Butene (C4H8)
 Pentene (C5H10)
 Hexene (C6H12)

Alkynes:

 Ethyne (C2H2)
 Propyne (C3H4)
 Butyne (C4H6)
 Pentyne (C5H8)
 Hexyne (C6H10)

Aromatic Hydrocarbons:

 Benzene (C6H6)
 Toluene (C7H8)
 Xylene (C8H10)
 Naphthalene (C10H8)
 Anthracene (C14H10)