Hydrocarbon

An introduction to Hydrocarbons

Alkane

A hydrocarbon with only single bonds between the carbon atoms.

Alkene

A hydrocarbon with at least one double bond between the carbon atoms.

Alkyne

A hydrocarbon with at least one triple bond between the carbon atoms.

Hydrogen atom

Element number 1, with one attachment point.

Covalent bond

The bond that forms between atoms, or compounds, if they are sharing electrons.

Cycloalkane

A ring of carbons with only single bonds.

Exothermic

It means "releasing heat energy." This is what you call chemical reactions that make things hot.

Attachment points

Every carbon atom has four of these. Every hydrogen atom has one of these.

Resonance structure

When single bonds and double bonds get blurry--the electrons are shared all around the compound.

Carbon dioxide and water

These are ALWAYS the products of EVERY complete combustion reaction.