hydrocarbons

Chemistry

2022

We explain what hydrocarbons are, their characteristics and how they are classified. In addition, its derivatives, applications and environmental impact.

Oil, natural gas and coal are the main sources of hydrocarbons.

What are hydrocarbons?

Hydrocarbons are various types of compounds organic. They may have a greater or lesser complexity, but they are always made up of a skeleton of atoms carbon (C) and hydrogen (H), as well as other eventual elements.

Each hydrocarbon presents its structural patterns, since its specific configuration determines its physical and chemical properties, as well as the name of the substance what it is about. The Petroleum, the natural gas and coal are the main sources of hydrocarbons.

Most of the hydrocarbons are in the interior of the Earth, buried under layers and layers of rock and I usually. They are the product of the anaerobic decomposition, under very specific conditions, of large amounts of organic material, which in ancient times constituted the body of different living creatures.

Hydrocarbons are also present in the body of different living beings, under specific forms such as the rubber that rubber trees generate, or a set of pigments called carotenes, which some plants have. In addition, they can be synthesized in a laboratory, counting on the raw material adequate.

Given their enormous chemical and energy potential, hydrocarbons are an indispensable part of various industries, among them, in obtaining electric power.

Characteristics of hydrocarbons

Some characteristics of hydrocarbons are:

  • They are made up of mostly carbon and hydrogen, and eventual additives of other elements or other radical groups. While their carbon atoms make up the structure of the compound, those of hydrogen in some cases serve as a bridge to hold them together in a configuration (form, structure, orientation) determined.
  • They may have a frame of molecules linear or branched, open or closed. It depends on its ordering and quantity of components whether it is one hydrocarbon or another.
  • They are highly flammable and have an enormous energy capacity, which makes them an ideal raw material for industrial transformation and for obtaining energy.
  • They are mostly toxic, and can emanate fumes dangerous for Health.

Classification of hydrocarbons

Each hydrocarbon has a specific molecular structure.

Since their discovery in the 19th century, hydrocarbons have been classified according to two possible criteria: their type of structure and the types of bonds between their atoms. According to the first classification, two categories are distinguished:

  • Acyclic or open chain hydrocarbons. They are those whose chain of molecules does not close on itself. In turn, they can be divided into linear (line-shaped) or branched (with various branches). For example:
  • Cyclic or closed chain hydrocarbons. They are those whose chain of molecules closes on itself. In turn, they can be divided into monocyclic (single cycle) and polycyclic (multiple cycles). For example:

Obeying the second classification, instead, we have:

  • Aromatic hydrocarbons. They have an aromatic ring, that is, a cyclic structure that obeys the so-called Hückel rule, which states that the number of delocalized electrons in an aromatic compound complies with:

Where:

    • n. Represents a whole number.
    • Ne. Represents the number of electrons delocalized in the aromatic compound.

For example, benzene (C6H6) has 6 delocalized electrons (called pi (𝛑) electrons) in its structure, which implies that n must be equal to 1.

Almost all aromatic hydrocarbons are usually derived from benzene (although not always) and therefore the hexagonal structure of benzene is part of many of these aromatic compounds. The name "aromatic" comes from the fact that these compounds were initially obtained by degrading chemical substances pleasant smell. Some examples of aromatic compounds are:

  • Aliphatic hydrocarbons. They lack an aromatic ring. Its name comes from the Greek aleiphar, that is, "fat", since they were obtained from the decomposition of oils and fats. They are classified as saturated (endowed with single atomic bonds) and unsaturated (possessing at least one multiple, double or triple bond). Some examples of aliphatic hydrocarbons are:

Importance of hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are extremely versatile substances since they serve as raw material to obtain very varied products. In addition, they have great energy potential, that is, their combustion is easy and intense, so that they energetically sustain a diverse set of industries, ranging from materials, solvents, the fossil fuels, to the generation of electrical energy.

Added to that is the fact that their formation took millions of years of slow chemical processes underground, so that they constitute an important resource but non-renewable, which one day will be exhausted forever (or at least for a good amount of time). Its use should take place under conditions of extreme responsibility.

Derivatives and applications of hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are used to make multiple plastic materials.

Hydrocarbons have a huge set of uses for the human being, among which stand out:

  • Power generation. Thanks to its enormous capacity to combustion, hydrocarbons are used as power source To generate electricity. This is carried out in certain types of power plants, and supplies energy to both homes and other industries and allows the support of our way of life.
  • The generation of fuels. Their energy capacity allows them to manufacture various types of fuels (gasoline, diesel, natural gas liquefied), to power various types of vehicles, or to power various household appliances such as space heaters, stoves, and heaters that operate using gases such as butane or propane.
  • Obtaining plastics. Different types of plastic and versatile materials can be obtained in laboratories from the handling of hydrocarbons. These materials are so cheap, efficient and simple to manufacture that there is a huge industry around them.
  • The manufacture of solvents and others products. Many hydrocarbons are essential components of solvents and solvents, cleaning products, fertilizers, or bitumen.

Environmental impact of hydrocarbons

The use of hydrocarbons has its cost, and the first impact he takes it environment. In general, it is about toxic substances, capable of producing great ecological damage in the event that they are dumped in the nature, as with oil spills or oil leaks. Repairing these environmental damages is often costly and time consuming.

In addition, depending on the hydrocarbon, its release or its combustion emit gases of greenhouse effect to atmosphere, that is, gases rich in carbon such as methane (CH4) or carbon dioxide (CO2).

These gases can destroy the ozone layer the planet, and also block the escape of energy through the atmosphere, dramatically contributing to the global warming and to climate change. The burning of fossil fuels is, in fact, one of the main factors in this global problem.

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