/ Preparation Chemistry Hydrocarbon
Now we will explore the concept of hydrocarbons which forms the backbone of organic chemistry. These are simple compounds whose structure comprises of only carbon and hydrogen atoms which are used in various chemical reactions. Hydrocarbons are found in various forms such as the fossil fuels (petrol, diesel, natural gas, etc.) and even some of our daily life products like plastics. This article will help you to clear the fundamental concepts of organic chemistry from scratch, eventually allowing to tackle a wide range of JEE MAINS questions.
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- Types of Hydrocarbons Based on Carbon-Carbon Bonds
- Classification of Hydrocarbons Based on Structure
- Class 11 Chemistry NCERT Solutions: Chapter Wise
Types of Hydrocarbons Based on Carbon-Carbon Bonds
On the basis of carbon bonds, hydrocarbons can be divided into saturated and unsaturated compounds. These compounds are explained briefly as follows:
a) Saturated Hydrocarbons
These have only one single bond between the carbon atoms, such as alkanes. Alkanes are mostly unreactive due to the tight electron bonding of the atoms.
General formula: CnH2n+2
Examples include: Methane (CH4), Ethane (C2H6), Propane (C3H8), Cyclohexane (C6H12) etc.
b) Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
These hydrocarbons possess multiple carbon-carbon bonds, because of which they become more reactive than saturated hydrocarbons.
They are further divided into:
- Alkenes: These have at least one double bond between the carbon atoms. The general formula for alkenes is
C n H 2 n - Alkynes: These have at least one triple bond between the carbon atoms. The general formula for alkynes is
C n H 2 n - 2
Classification of Hydrocarbons Based on Structure
A Compound's structure can also affect it's properties and sensitivity to chemical reactions. Keeping this in mind, hydrocarbons also have a classification based on this property. Here are some major categories:
a) Acyclic (Open-Chain) Hydrocarbons
These compounds have a straight chain-like structure (both straight and branched). Examples include butane (single line) or isobutane (branches).
b) Cyclic (Closed Chain) Hydrocarbons
Here, the carbons don't form a straight line like acyclic compounds. Instead, they are ring-shaped and may also be aromatic. Cyclic Hydrocarbons can be further divided into:
- Alicyclic Hydrocarbons: These are compounds that form a ring-like structure and don’t have aromatic properties. They can be both saturated and unsaturated. For example, cyclohexane.
- Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic Hydrocarbons/arenes are made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms which follow Huckel Rule and are highly stable due to their delocalized π electrons.The most common example is benzene.
Class 11 Chemistry NCERT Solutions: Chapter Wise
Commonly asked questions
What is the meaning of a paraffin?
Paraffin is a term derived from the latin literature meaning low reactivity or little affinity. This term is generally used to denote alkanes because out of all the hydrocarbons, they have the least reactivity because of having a strong carbon bond between their atoms.
What is an aromatic hydrocarbon?
Also known as arenes, they are a special category of hydrocarbons that have a ring-like structure. These hydrocarbons consist of delocalized pie electrons and are known to be very stable. Benzene is known to be the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon
What is an olefin in hydrocarbons?
Olefin is a general terms used for unsaturated hydrocarbons such as hydrocarbons which have more than one bond between their carbon atoms. It is derived from the latin word oleum (oil) and facere (make), since these products formed are usually oily in nature.
Chemistry Hydrocarbon Exam
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