The
classifications for hydrocarbons defined by IUPAC nomenclature of organic
chemistry are as
follows:
- Saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) are the simplest of the hydrocarbon species and are composed entirely of single bonds and are saturated with hydrogen. The general formula for saturated hydrocarbons is CnH2n+2 (assuming non-cyclic structures).[5] Saturated hydrocarbons are the basis of petroleum fuels and are found as either linear or branched species. Hydrocarbons with the same molecular formula but different structural formulae are called structural isomers.[6] As given in the example of 3-methylhe xane and its higher homologues, branched hydrocarbons can be chiral.[7] Chiral saturated hydrocarbons constitute the side chains of biomolecules such as chlorophyll and tocopherol.[8]
- Unsaturated hydrocarbons have one or more double or triple bonds between carbon atoms. Those with double bond are called alkenes. Those with one double bond have the formula CnH2n (assuming non-cyclic structures).[9] Those containing triple bonds are called alkynes, with general formula CnH2n-2.[10]
- Cycloalkanes are hydrocarbons containing one or more carbon rings to which hydrogen atoms are attached. The general formula for a saturated hydrocarbon containing one ring is CnH2n.[6]
- Aromatic hydrocarbons, also known as arenes, are hydrocarbons that have at least one aromatic ring.
Hydrocarbons
can be gases (e.g. methane and propane), liquids (e.g. hexane and benzene), waxes or low melting solids (e.g. paraffin wax and naphthalene) or polymers (e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene).
General properties
Because of
differences in molecular structure, the empirical formula remains different
between hydrocarbons; in linear, or "straight-run" alkanes, alkenes
and alkynes, the amount of bonded hydrogen lessens in alkenes and alkynes due
to the "self-bonding" or catenation of carbon preventing entire
saturation of the hydrocarbon by the formation of double or triple bonds.
This
inherent ability of hydrocarbons to bond to themselves is referred to as catenation, and allows hydrocarbon to form
more complex molecules, such as cyclohexane,and in rarer cases, arenes such as benzene. This ability comes from the fact
that bond character between carbon atoms is entirely non-polar, in that the
distribution of electrons between the two elements is somewhat even due to the
same electronegativity values of the elements (~0.30), and does not result in
the formation of an electrophile.
Generally,
with catenation comes the loss of the total amount of bonded hydrocarbons and
an increase in the amount of energy required for bond cleavage due to strain
exerted upon the molecule;in molecules such as cyclohexane, this is referred to
as ring strain, and occurs due to the
"destabilized" spatial electron configuration of the atom.
In simple
chemistry, as per valence bond theory, the carbon atom must follow the "4-hydrogen rule",which
states that the maximum number of atoms available to bond with carbon is equal
to the number of electrons that are attracted into the outer shell of carbon.In
terms of shells, carbon consists of an incomplete outer shell, which comprises
4 electrons,and thus has 4 electrons available for covalent or dative bonding.
Some
hydrocarbons also are abundant in the solar system. Lakes of liquid methane and
ethane have been found on Titan, Saturn's largest moon, confirmed
by the Cassini-Huygens Mission.[11] Hydrocarbons are also abundant in
nebulae forming polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - PAH compounds.
Simple hydrocarbons and their variations
Number of
carbon atoms |
Alkane (single bond)
|
Alkene (double bond)
|
Alkyne (triple bond)
|
||
1
|
–
|
–
|
|||
2
|
Ethene (ethylene)
|
Ethyne (acetylene)
|
–
|
–
|
|
3
|
Propene (propylene)
|
Propyne (methylacetylene)
|
Propadiene (allene)
|
||
4
|
Butene (butylene)
|
||||
5
|
Pentadiene (piperylene)
|
||||
6
|
|||||
7
|
|||||
8
|
|||||
9
|
|||||
10
|
|||||
|
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