Fuels and Earth Science: Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons:

Hydrocarbons are compounds that are made up of exclusively hydrogen and carbon atoms.
These substances are used as sources of energy in various applications. For instance, methane, a common hydrocarbon, is the main component of natural gas.
The simplest hydrocarbons are the alkanes, each member differing by a CH2 unit. Their general formula is CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. This means that they contain only single bonds and have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms for each carbon atom.
Hydrocarbons can also form structures with double bonds (alkenes) or triple bonds (alkynes). These are called unsaturated hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbons are generally non-polar and, therefore, do not mix with water.
When hydrocarbons burn in the presence of oxygen, they release energy. If the combustion is complete (enough oxygen is present), the products are carbon dioxide and water.
Incomplete combustion (not enough oxygen) of hydrocarbons can lead to the formation of toxic carbon monoxide and soot (carbon particles).
Hydrocarbons are also important for the production of many chemicals and materials, including plastics, waxes, oils and natural gases.
They are generally obtained from fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil through a process called fractional distillation.
The overuse of hydrocarbon-based fuels has environmental implications, including air pollution (smog, acid rain) and global warming due to increased levels of greenhouse gases.
Exploring alternative, sustainable energy sources to reduce our reliance on hydrocarbon fuels is a fundamental challenge in modern science.