Hydrocarbon

A chemical compound composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons form the structural basis of petroleum, natural gas, and many organic molecules.

Alkane: A saturated hydrocarbon containing only single carbon–carbon bonds. Alkanes are the simplest hydrocarbon family, with no multiple bonds.
Combustion: A rapid reaction with an oxidizer that releases heat and often light. Hydrocarbon combustion converts carbon and hydrogen chiefly into carbon dioxide and water.
Petroleum: A naturally occurring mixture of liquid hydrocarbons found in underground reservoirs. Petroleum is separated and processed into fuels and chemical feedstocks.
Alcohol (chemistry): An organic compound containing a hydroxyl group bonded to a saturated carbon atom. Alcohols contain oxygen, unlike compounds made solely of carbon and hydrogen.
Alkene: An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon–carbon double bond. A carbon–carbon double bond gives this family characteristic reactions.
Cracking (chemistry): The breaking of large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller molecules, usually by heat or catalysts. Refining uses cracking to turn heavy hydrocarbons into lighter fuels and feedstocks.
Natural gas: A naturally occurring gaseous mixture composed mainly of methane and other light hydrocarbons. Its light hydrocarbons supply fuel and raw material for chemical production.
Halocarbon: An organic compound containing carbon bonded to one or more halogen atoms. Halocarbons replace at least some hydrogen with halogens.
Alkyne: An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon–carbon triple bond. Triple bonds distinguish alkynes from the other major open-chain families.
Catalytic reforming: A refinery process that rearranges hydrocarbons to increase gasoline octane and produce hydrogen. It changes hydrocarbon structures without simply dividing them into smaller fragments.

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