Hydrocarbons

• Hydrocarbons only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms
• Alkanes :

  • simplest type of hydrocarbon you can get
  • The akanes are a homologous series - a group of organic compounds that react in a similar way
  • They are also saturated compounds- each carbon atom forms four single covalent bonds
  • First four alkanes are: methane, ethane,propane and butane
• Hydrocarbon properties change as the chain gets longer

  • shorter the carbon chain the more runny it is
  • hydrocarbons with shorter carbon chains are more volatile, they have lower boiling points
  • short carbon chains are more flammable
  • short chain hydrocarbons are used as bottled gases and stored under pressure as liquids in bottles
• complete combustion occurs When there's plenty of oxygen

  • The complete combustion of any hydrocarbon in oxygen releases lots of energy the only waste products are carbon dioxide and water vapour
  • hydrocarbon + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water
  • During combustion both carbon and hydrogen from the hydrocarbon are oxidised