11.3.3

Fuels & Hydrocarbons

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Fuels and Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms and form the basis of many fuels used today.

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What are hydrocarbons?

  • Hydrocarbons are organic compounds with hydrogen and carbon only.
  • Hydrocarbons can be gases, liquids, or solids.
  • Hydrocarbons are the main components of fossil fuels.
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Types of hydrocarbons

  • Hydrocarbons can be alkanes, alkenes, or alkynes.
    • Alkanes have single bonds only (for example, methane).
    • Alkenes have at least one double bond (for example, ethene).
    • Alkynes have at least one triple bond (for example, ethyne).
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Hydrocarbons and fuels

  • Many fuels like petrol and diesel are mixtures of hydrocarbons.
  • Hydrocarbons burn in oxygen to produce energy.
    • The energy from hydrocarbons powers cars, planes, and homes.
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Sources of hydrocarbons

  • Crude oil is a natural source of hydrocarbons.
    • Natural gas contains mostly methane, a hydrocarbon.
    • Coal, which is mainly made up of carbon, also contains hydrocarbons in small amounts.
  • Refining crude oil separates hydrocarbons by boiling point.
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Importance of hydrocarbons in chemistry

  • Hydrocarbons show how carbon forms long chains.
  • Hydrocarbons provide raw materials for plastics and chemicals.
  • Understanding hydrocarbons helps us study organic chemistry.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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