The Light Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbon is a type of organic chemical compound that only consists of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) elements. Hydrocarbons are the main components of oil and natural gas. Aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes), alkanes, alkenes, cyclocanes and alkyne compounds are other types of hydrocarbons. Most hydrocarbons are produced from thermal molecular cracking and distillation of crude oil. Hydrocarbons can be used as fuels and lubricants, as well as raw materials for the production of plastics, fibers, rubbers, solvents, explosives and industrial chemicals. Large amounts of hydrocarbons are used as fuels for combustion, especially in heating and motor fuel applications. The main components of natural gas are methane and ethane. With pentane, saturated hydrocarbons enter the room temperature range. This makes them useful as organic solvents, cleaners and transportation fuels. Gasoline for internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, tractors, lawn mowers, etc. is rated for combustion properties relative to octane. It is actually a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons that range from hexane to decane. Relatively larger hydrocarbons are known as kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel and heating oil, and larger hydrocarbon molecules are used as lubricating oils and grease oils.