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Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds consisting only of elements carbon and hydrogen. Every hydrocarbon contains a carbon “skeleton,” or a series of carbon atoms directly bonded to one another, with hydrogen atoms attached all along the skeleton. Most hydrocarbons are easily combustible and provide ready energy.

The simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of a single carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, is methane; methane is also an alkane. There are three major types of hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons have at least one aromatic ring in their makeup. Saturate hydrocarbons, or alkanes, have no double, triple, or aromatic bonds; they are fully saturated with as many hydrogen atoms as possible. The unsaturated hydrocarbons include alkenes and alkynes, and contain one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

Hydrocarbons extracted as liquid from the earth are referred to as petroleum (which translates to “rock oil”) or mineral oil. Gaseous geologic hydrocarbons are called natural gas. These are all common in the Earth’s crust. They typically must be distilled and separated into grades before they are ready to be used as fuel.

Hydrocarbons are also found as products or substance of many living things; for instance, cows famously burp a lot of methane.

Web Resources On Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon Online
A proposed "metabolism" for a hydrocarbon assembler

Book Resources On Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production by Jahn, Cook and Graham
Hydrates of Hydrocarbons by Makogon & Makogon

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