Different Types of Hydrocarbon

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDROCARBONS

Saturated

ALKANES
An alkane, (paraffin) is a saturated hydrocarbon that consists only of hydrogen and carbon atoms and all bonds are single bonds. Alkanes have the general chemical formula CnH2n+2. Alkanes belong to a homologous series of organic compounds. There are two main commercial sources: crude oil and natural gas. Alkanes are not very reactive and have little biological activity. All alkanes are colorless and odorless. Methane is the simplest alkane.

Unsaturated

ALKENES
An alkene, (olefin) is an unsaturated chemical compound containing at least one carbon–carbon double bond and its general formula is CnH2n. It has two hydrogen atoms less than the corresponding alkene. Alkenes are relatively stable compounds, but are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of a carbon–carbon pi-bond. The simplest alkene is ethylene (C2H4), which has the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name ethane. In the petrochemical industry alkenes are often called olefins.

                                                                         

ALKYNES
An alkyne is an unsaturated hydrocarbon which has at least one carbon—carbon triple bond between two carbon atoms. Its general chemical formula CnH2n-2. Alkynes are traditionally known as acetylenes, although the name acetylene also refers specifically to C2H2, known formally as ethyl using IUPAC nomenclature. Like other hydrocarbons, alkynes are generally hydrophobic but tend to be more reactive.