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Question:

What are hydrocarbons?

Solution:

  1. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are made of only hydrogen and carbon atoms.
  2. Saturated hydrocarbons have only single bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms and are called alkanes. General formula: CnH2n+2. Ethane: -CH3−CH3
  3. Unsaturated hydrocarbons have double and triple bonds between carbon atoms. They are alkenes and alkynes. General formula: alkenes: CnH2n and alkynes: CnH2n−2; Ethene (Alkene): -CH2=CH2. Ethyne (Alkyne): -CH≡CH
  4. Unsaturated hydrocarbons can be converted to saturated hydrocarbons by addition of hydrogen which breaks the double or triple bond. CH2=CH2 + H2 (Ni) → CH3−CH3