| | A '''hydrocarbon''' (HC) is a substance that is made of [[carbon]] and [[hydrogen]] in the gaseous, liquid, or solid phase. The molecular structure of hydrocarbon compounds varies from the simplest to the very heavy and very complex. The first structures are [[methane]], [[ethane]], [[propane]] (used for fuel), [[butane]] (used in lighters), [[pentane]], [[hexane]], [[heptane]], and [[octane]]. | | A '''hydrocarbon''' (HC) is a substance that is made of [[carbon]] and [[hydrogen]] in the gaseous, liquid, or solid phase. The molecular structure of hydrocarbon compounds varies from the simplest to the very heavy and very complex. The first structures are [[methane]], [[ethane]], [[propane]] (used for fuel), [[butane]] (used in lighters), [[pentane]], [[hexane]], [[heptane]], and [[octane]]. |
| | Hydrocarbons can be divided into saturated, unsaturated and [[Aromatic ring|aromatic]] hydrocarbons. Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds. They are called [[alkane]]s. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain double bounds ([[alkene]]s) or triple bounds ([[alkyne]]s). | | Hydrocarbons can be divided into saturated, unsaturated and [[Aromatic ring|aromatic]] hydrocarbons. Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single bonds. They are called [[alkane]]s. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain double bounds ([[alkene]]s) or triple bounds ([[alkyne]]s). |
| − | Although they are highly flammable, HCs may offer advantages as [[Ozone-Depleting Substance]] substitutes because they are inexpensive to produce and they have zero [[ozone depletion potential]], very low [[global warming potential]] (GWP), and low [[toxicity]].
| + | HCs are highly flammable, and are the primary components of [[natural gas]] and [[petroleum]] (fuel). HCs are also useful to manufacturing plastics, |