7 Hydrocarbon Examples: Detailed Facts You Should Know!

Hydrocarbons form the strongest bonds between hydrogen and carbon as hydrogen is a highly reactive element. In this article, we shall discuss various examples of hydrocarbons.

  • Methane
  • Ethane
  • Butane
  • Propane
  • Pentane
  • Hexane
  • Heptane
  • Octane
  • Nonane
  • Decane
  • Fats
  • Monomers
  • Plastics
  • Natural gas
  • Crude oil
  • Coal
  • Paraffin
  • Isopropyl
  • Asphalt

Hydrocarbons forms single, double or triple bonds, and also aromatic hydrocarbon form a cyclic ring structure like benzene. Most of the bio-organic matter is made up of hydrocarbons. We shall further ponder on different examples of hydrocarbon solvents, fuels, gases, food materials, hydrocarbon compounds, oil, etc. one by one.

Hydrocarbon Solvents Examples

Hydrocarbon solvents are aromatic solvent made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms that contains a paraffinic portion. Let us list some examples of hydrocarbon solvents.

  • Heptane – It is a linear chain of hydrocarbon molecules used for fuel tests.
  • White Spirit – It is an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent used for cleaning and degreasing metals.
  • Benzene – It is used for dyes, lubricants, and paint removers.
  • Xylene – It is a flammable sweet odor liquid solvent used for rubber cement.

Hydrocarbon Fuels Examples

Hydrocarbon fuels are natural fuels obtained from organic matter and thus are rich in hydrocarbons. Let us list some examples of hydrocarbon fuels here below.

  • Petrol – It is acquired from oil drilling and the chemical formula of petrol is CnH2n+2O.
  • Kerosene – It is obtained from the petroleum used for combustion.
  • Paraffin – It is also obtained from petroleum for the combustion process.
  • Gasoline – It is a flammable transparent solvent acquired from petroleum.

Hydrocarbon Gas Examples

Hydrocarbon gases are the fumes of hydrocarbon compounds that are escaped into the air and may have negative effects on the environment. Let us list some examples of CH- gases.

  • Methane – It is a greenhouse gas emitted from natural sources and can be used as a fuel.
  • Ethane – It is an odorless gas obtained as a byproduct of petroleum.
  • Propane – It is used as a fuel to supply heat for welding, and brazing, and also used as a motor fuel.
  • Butane – It is a petrochemical used in refineries.

Hydrocarbon Food Examples

Most edibles are composed of saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, amino acids, and protein, rich in hydrocarbons. Let us list some examples of hydrocarbon food.

  • Avocados – It contains fatty acid rich in hydrocarbons.
  • Butter – It composes of lipids which are a type of fat found in the blood.
  • Peanuts – It composes of hydrocarbons having fats and amino acids.
  • Cream – It is solid globules form rich in fats.
  • Fish – Fish relies on organic matter and majorly compose of hydrocarbon.

Hydrocarbon Compounds Examples

Hydrocarbon compounds are all those substances that compose of two or more types of atoms. Let us discuss some examples of hydrocarbon compounds.

  • Naphthaline ball – It is a white crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon used to get rid of fleas.
  • Coal – It is an organic remnant of organic matter rich in hydrogen and carbon.
  • Cyclohexane – It is a colorless liquid used as a detergent.
  • Acetylene – It is a colorless fuel with carbon atoms having triple bonds.
oil 1
Image Credit: Mustard oil by Ganguly Biswarup (CC-BY-3.0)

Hydrocarbon Oil Examples

The hydrocarbon oils are hydrophobic and majorly comprises of hydrocarbons. These are usually lipophilic and flammable. Let us list some hydrocarbon oils that are used often.

  • Lamp Oil – It is the hydrocarbon liquid used to lit lamps.
  • Limonene – It is aromatic hydrocarbon oil exacted from citrus fruit peels.
  • Soya beans Oil – It contains crude fats and carbohydrates.
  • Crude Oil – It is an organic natural oil extracted from the Earth.
  • Coconut oil – It is a fat extracted from coconut.

Conclusion

We can conclude with this article that there are various examples of hydrocarbons that are used in day-to-day life. The oils, fuels, food, disinfectants, etc. compose of hydrocarbons. These are mostly obtained from organic matter and are majorly composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms.

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