Hydrocarbons

• Hydrocarbons


  Compounds formed from carbon and hydrogen atoms only
• Alkanes


  The simplest type of hydrocarbon
• Alkanes


  • Each carbon atom forms four single covalent bonds
• First four alkanes


  • methane
  • ethane
  • propane
  • butane
• Displayed formula


  A drawing showing all the atoms and bonds in a molecule
• Complete combustion occurs when there's plenty of oxygen
• The complete combustion of a hydrocarbon in oxygen releases lots of energy
• Hydrocarbons are useful as fuels
• The only waste products of complete combustion are carbon dioxide and water vapour
• Complete combustion of a hydrocarbon


  Hydrocarbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water (+ energy)
• During combustion, both carbon and hydrogen from the hydrocarbon are oxidised
• Oxidation


  The gain of oxygen
• Balancing equation for complete combustion of a simple hydrocarbon

  CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O