Hydrocarbons, which are organic molecules made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, are divided into many categories based on their structure and the sorts of bonds they include. Hydrocarbons are classified into two types:
1-Aliphatic hydrocarbons: Aliphatic hydrocarbons are organic compounds that consist of straight or branched chains of carbon atoms. They can be categorized into three main types:
Saturated Hydrocarbons:
a. (Alkanes): Saturated hydrocarbons, also known as alkanes, are made up of single carbon-carbon bonds and carbon-hydrogen bonds. They are represented by the generic formula CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms. Alkanes are relatively inert compounds present in petroleum and natural gas. Methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8) are a few examples.
Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Unsaturated hydrocarbons have one or more multiple carbon-carbon bonds (double or triple bonds).
They are further classed as follows:
b. Alkenes are compounds that include at least one carbon-carbon double bond. CnH2n is their general formula, where n indicates the number of carbon atoms. Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes and go through more reactions. Ethene (C2H4), propene (C3H6), and butene (C4H8) are a few examples.
c. Alkynes have at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. CnH2n-2 is their general formula, where n is the number of carbon atoms. In addition, alkynes are more reactive than alkanes and undergo additional reactions. Ethyne (C2H2), propyne (C3H4), and butyne (C4H6) are a few examples.
2-Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic hydrocarbons are a type of cyclic molecule with unusual stability and reactivity. A benzene ring (a six-membered carbon ring with alternating single and double bonds) or other aromatic systems distinguish them. Aromatic hydrocarbons are named after the chemical component benzene, and their compounds are frequently labelled as "Ar." Benzene (C6H6), toluene (C6H5CH3), and naphthalene (C10H8) are a few examples.
It's worth noting that hydrocarbons can have substituents or functional groups bonded to the carbon skeleton, which can change their characteristics and reactivity. Halogens, hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, and other substituents are examples of these.
The structural characteristics of hydrocarbons are used to classify them, which aids in understanding their properties, reactivity, and behaviour in various chemical processes.
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