Liquid hydrocarbon is the hydrocarbon in the liquid state that is the main component of many energy resources. Let us provide some examples of liquid hydrogen.
- Liquified Butane
- Propane
- Ethane
- Methanol
- Hexane
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Toluene
- Glycerol
- Aniline
- Liquid Paraffin
- Acetone
- Mesitylene
- Nitrobenzene
Generally, liquid hydrocarbons are obtained from crude oil and petroleum products. Many hydrocarbons are in gaseous form under normal atmospheric pressure and can be liquefied to use them. Now, we shall discuss the detailed explanation of the list of liquid hydrocarbons.
Liquified Butane
Butane is a colorless and odorless gas that can be easily liquefied, and its availability is in the liquid state. Liquid butane is commonly used as fuel for lighter and portable gas stoves.
Propane
Propane exists in both liquid and gaseous form, extracted from crude oil refining and processing natural gas. Propane exists as a liquid when it is stored in a container or tank. Propane in liquid form is more compatible in terms of transport and storage. It is mostly used as fuel for AC and water heaters.
Ethane
When refrigerated below -78.5°C, ethane is colorless, and odorless and boils at -88.6°C. Ethane gets easily ignited. The direct contact of liquid ethane with water can cause vigorous boiling. If the water is hot, it may lead to an explosion also. Ethane is non-polar and miscible in both oxygen and other hydrocarbons.
Methanol
Methanol is a colorless liquid hydrocarbon with a sweet and pungent odor. Methanol boils at 64.8°C and can be solidified at -93.9°C. With heavy exposure to air, methanol burns with non-luminous flame. Methanol is completely miscible in water.
Hexane
Hexane is colorless, an odorless liquid hydrocarbon that boils at around 69°C in its pure form. Modern gasoline contains about 3% hexane. It is a non-polar compound, so it is insoluble in water. Hexane has a wide range of applications in industries as it is less expensive. Mostly used in the formulation of shoes and other leather products.
Benzene
Benzene is the simplest form of aromatic hydrocarbon in a liquid state. Benzene is a colorless liquid with a moderate boiling point of about 80.1°C. It is a non-polar molecule immiscible in water but completely soluble in other organic compounds. Benzene can quickly evaporate in the air.
Xylene
Xylene is a colorless and non-viscous liquid hydrocarbon that is highly flammable and toxic. It is insoluble in water and can be miscible in other organic solvents. Xylene is synthesized by methylation of benzene and toluene. The boiling point of xylene is 138.5°C.
Toluene
Toluene is a colorless liquid hydrocarbon that boils at 110°C. It is insoluble in water and less dense than water; hence toluene floats on water. Toluene is extensively used as an organic solvent. It has a wide range of applications in the cosmetic and dye industries. Products such as nail polish remover are often made of toluene.
Glycerol
Glycerol is a colorless, highly viscous, syrupy liquid hydrocarbon with a high boiling point of about 290°C. Glycerol is non-toxic and miscible in water in all proportions. Glycerol has antimicrobial and antiviral properties; hence they are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Aniline
Aniline is an oily liquid aromatic hydrocarbon that appears yellow to brownish and boils at 184°C. It is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in ether. Aniline is widely used in rubber processing and as a dye for jeans. It has a wide range in agricultural industries as pesticides.
Liquid Paraffin
Liquid paraffin is mineral oil, the by-product of crude oil. It is a colorless, tasteless, transparent liquid hydrocarbon that boils at 300°C. It is insoluble in ethanol, glycerin and water but soluble in acetone, benzene, chloroform, etc.
Acetone
Acetone is colorless and has a distinct odor and taste. Acetone is highly flammable, readily dissolves in water, and boils at 56.05°C. Acetone is normally present in the human body in blood and urine. It is the main component in manufacturing nail polish and paints thinner.
Mesitylene
Mesitylene is a colorless liquid hydrocarbon with a sweet aroma. Mesitylene is a component of coal tar. It is insoluble in water and less dense than water. The boiling point of mesitylene is 163-166°C.
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is a yellowish oily hydrocarbon that is a good electrophilic agent. The boiling point of nitrobenzene is 210°C. It is insoluble in water but soluble in some organic compounds. Nitrobenzene is mainly used as shoe polish and scenting cheap soaps.
Types of liquid hydrocarbon
Liquid hydrocarbons are volatile, and their classification is based on their extraction, uses and other properties. Let us discuss the types of liquid hydrocarbons.
- Crude oil and pentanes plus –these are naturally occurring hydrocarbons. These are in a gaseous state, but they exist in liquid form under normal pressure. This liquid hydrocarbon is extracted from raw natural gas and condensate crude oil. Pentane is an example of Crude oil and pentanes plus hydrocarbon.
- Liquefied petroleum gases –this consists of fuels gas composed of a liquid mixture of flammable hydrocarbons. These are petroleum gas that is liquefied under high pressure. These are also extracted from crude oil refineries. Butane and propane are some examples.
- Refined petroleum products are the hydrocarbons obtained from refining crude oils. Motor gasoline, heavy oil, and aviation fuel are some examples of refined petroleum products.
Other than the above types, some alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons are also in liquid form, so they are considered a type of liquid hydrocarbons.
Properties of liquid hydrocarbon
Most liquid hydrocarbons are in gaseous form that should be liquefied for future use. Now, let us focus on the properties of liquid hydrocarbons.
- Most Liquid hydrocarbons are volatile and flammable.
- Liquid hydrocarbon is a non-polar molecule, thus insoluble in water, but it can be soluble in some organic solvents.
- Most liquid hydrocarbons are combustible; hence used as fuels.
- Liquid hydrocarbon possesses weak intermolecular force.
- Some liquid hydrocarbon has a high viscosity, and some are completely non-viscous liquid.
Conclusion
Let us end this post by stating that liquid hydrocarbon is the main energy source and has a wide range of industrial applications. Most of them are extracted from crude oil and are the by-product of petroleum. Thus they are considered a non-renewable source of energy.
Read more about Saturated Hydrocarbon Examples.
Also Read:
- Carbon density
- Aromatic hydrocarbon examples 2
- Is carbon malleable
- Aliphatic hydrocarbon examples
- Halogenated hydrocarbon examples
- Saturated hydrocarbon examples 2
- Hydrocarbon examples
I am Keerthi K Murthy, I have completed post graduation in Physics, with the specialization in the field of solid state physics. I have always consider physics as a fundamental subject which is connected to our daily life. Being a science student I enjoy exploring new things in physics. As a writer my goal is to reach the readers with the simplified manner through my articles.
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