Chemistry Notes on Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons

Organic compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Organic chemistry

Scientific study of the structures, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-containing compounds.

Tetravalency

Ability of carbon to form up to four covalent bonds with other elements.

Molecular formula

Indicates types and numbers of atoms in a molecule.

Structural formula

Shows atom connectivity in a molecule.

Saturated hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons with single bonds exclusively.

Unsaturated hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons containing at least one double or triple bond.

Fossil fuels

Predominant sources of hydrocarbons derived from ancient marine organisms.

Fractional distillation

Process to separate petroleum into simpler fractions based on boiling points.

Cracking

Process that converts heavier hydrocarbon fractions into gasoline and other lighter products.

Octane rating

Measure of gasoline's antiknock properties.

Alkanes

Saturated hydrocarbons with single covalent bonds and general formula CnH{2n+2}.

Straight-chain alkanes

Alkanes with carbon atoms bonded linearly.

Branched-chain alkanes

Alkanes with carbon atoms bonded to one, two, three, or four other carbon atoms.

Alkyl groups

Alkane-based substituent groups that attach to a parent carbon chain.

IUPAC nomenclature

Standardized rules for naming branched-chain alkanes.

Cycloalkanes

Hydrocarbons that contain a ring structure.

Nonpolar compounds

Nonpolar nature of C–C and C–H bonds in alkanes.

Alkenes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing one or more double bonds.

Alkynes

Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing one or more triple bonds.

Isomers

Molecules that share the same molecular formula but have different structural arrangements.

Structural isomers

Isomers with different bonding arrangements.

Stereoisomers

Isomers that share the same bonding order but differ in their spatial arrangements.

Geometric isomers

Isomers in alkenes with different spatial arrangements of substituents due to restricted rotation around the double bond.

Benzene

Six-carbon ring compound with alternating single and double bonds and delocalized electrons.