Question

What are hydrocarbons? How are these classified?

Answer 1

Part:1

1. Hydrocarbons are Carbon compounds that are formed by the connection of multiple bonds between Carbon and Hydrogen atoms.
2. Mostly, hydrocarbons are colourless and have a very weak smell.
3. Hydrocarbons are of two types:

1. Saturated Hydrocarbon: Those that form single bonds are called saturated Hydrocarbon.

2. Unsaturated Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons in which Carbon atoms are combined with the double and triple bond are called Unsaturated Hydrocarbons.

Part 2:

Saturated Hydrocarbon and Unsaturated Hydrocarbon are further divided into Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes.

1. Alkanes are the saturated Hydrocarbon that has a single bond between Carbon atoms and has the molecular formula of${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}+2}$ where n is the number of Carbon atoms.
2. Alkenes are the unsaturated Hydrocarbon that has a double bond between Carbon atoms and has the molecular formula of ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}}$ where n is the number of Carbon atoms.
3. Alkynes are the unsaturated hydrocarbons that have the triple bond between Carbon atoms and have the molecular formula of ${\mathrm{C}}_{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{H}}_{2\mathrm{n}-2}$where n is the number of Carbon atoms.