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Hydrocarbon occur widely in nature

Hydrocarbon definition

By poonam sunchuPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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Hydrocarbon occur widely in nature
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Hydrocarbons are naturally occurring chemical compounds that consist of hydrogen and carbon found in crude oil, natural gas, and coal. They have been manipulated by humans to be used as an energy source, such as gasoline and jet fuel.

Hydrocarbon occur widely in nature in different forms. Hydrocarbon are the simplest organic compound containing the element carbon and hydrogen. Liquefied petroleum gas , compressed Natural gas and liquefied natural gas contains the lower member of alkanes . The alkanes C6 to C8 are the constituent of gasoline and petrol. Diesel contains a mixture of alkanes C15 to C 18 Waxes that occur in nature as coating on green leaves contains alkanes C29 to C31. Undecane, secreted by cockroaches, helps to attract opposite gender of its species. Cyclohexane, the cyclic alkanes, is one of the common components of mangoes. Alkenes, ethylene, propylene, styrene are used for the manufacture of polymer. LPG, kerosene are used used as domestic fuels. CNG, petrol, diesel are used as fuels for automobile.

Hydrocarbon are classified as aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon. Aliphatic hydrocarbon contains open chains of carbon atoms, which are further classified as saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbon. Saturated hurricane contains all C - C single bonds while unsaturated hydrocarbon contains carbon - carbon double and or triple bonds. Alicyclic hydrocarbon contains rings of carbon atoms and have properties similar to that of aliphatic hydrocarbon. Aromatic hydrocarbon contains one or more benzene rings in their structure. It is intended to study some interesting aspects of chemistry of alkanes in this chapter.

Alkanes at aliphatic saturated hydrocarbon. Alkanes have open chains structure and carbon atoms are linked together by single covalent bonds. In alkanes, all the four Valencies of carbon are satisfied by four atoms or group of atoms . Alkanes are also called paraffins because alkanes do not undego chemical reaction easily. Some common alkanes ad their molecular formulae are mentioned below.

Methane, Ethane, propane, Butane, Pentane.

Thus the general formula of alkanes is CnH2n+2, where n is an interger and indicates the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.

Structural Formula-

Molecular formula of a compound indicates the number of atoms of various elements present in a molecules. However it does not give any information that how the atoms are interlink. Structural formula of a compound gives interlinked. Structural formula of a compound gives the actual attachment of atoms of various Elements in a molecules. Structural formula can be represented in different ways. Electronic structure of a compound indicates the arrangements of electrons around the atoms.

The molecules formula of methane is CH4. The carbon atom in methane undergoes sp3 hybridization. Carbon atom forms four C - H sigma bonds by axial overlap of sp3 hybrid orbital of carbon and s orbital of hydrogen. Methane has tetrahedral geometry in which carbon atom lies at the centre and four hydrogen atoms at the four corners of a regular tetrahedron. All the C - H bond angle are 109'28.

Classification of alkanes-

Alkanes are classified as straight chain and branched chains alkanes.

Straight chain alkanes -

The alkanes in which each Carbon atom is bonded to not more than two other carbon atoms are known as straight chain alkanes or normal alkanes. In these alkanes all carbon atoms form a continuous carbon chain without Branching.

Branched chains alkanes- The alkanes in which at least one carbon atom is bonded to more than two other carbon atom is bonded to more than two other carbon atoms are known as branches chain alkanes.

Some branched chain alkanes may be classified as,

Isoalkanes- The alkanes in which one methyl group is attached to the second carbon atom of the normal chain of carbon atoms are called isoalkanes. In isoalkanes one carbon branch is attached to carbon atom next to end carbon atom of continuecarbon chain. In these alkanes CH(CH3)2 isopropyl group is present at one end of the normal chain of carbon atoms.

Neoalkanes- The alkanes in which two methyl group are attached to the second carbon atom of the normal chain of carbon atoms are called neoalkanes. In neoalkanes two one carbon branches are attached to carbon atom next to end carbon atom of continuous carbon chain. In these alkanes- C (CH3)3 tert - butyl group is presenting at one end of the normal chain of carbon atoms.

Types of carbon atoms in alkanes -

Depending upon the number of carbon atoms attached to a particular carbon atom, the carbon atoms in alkanes are classified into four types as follows-

The carbon atom which is attached to only one other carbon atoms is called primary carbon atom the carbon atom in methane is termed as primary carbon atom. The terminal carbon atom which is attached to two other carbon atoms is called secondary carbon atom . A teritiary carbon atom is attached to three other carbon atoms while the carbon atom which is attached to four other carbon atoms is called quaternary carbon atom.

As indicated, the above alkanes contains five primary, two secondary, one teritiary and one quaternary carbon atoms. The hydrogen atom attached to a primary carbon atom is called primary hydrogen atom. Similarly, the hydrogen atom attached to secondry.

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