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What is a hydrocarbon?

Updated: 8/10/2023
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AUSTIN BRYAN

Lvl 1
4y ago

Verified answer

A molecule contains only hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms

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Casey Moineau

Lvl 4
3y ago
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Evan Stamurgatroyd

Lvl 8
4y ago

A compound of hydrogen and carbon.

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Wiki User

9y ago

A hydrocarbon is a molecule that consists primarily of hydrogen and carbon. Other atoms may be present in place of the hydrogen atoms in some places. Examples of hydrocarbons include Methane (CH4), toluene.


A hydrocarbon contains only hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms. There are a large number of hydrocarbons, but the simplest is CH4 (methane).

One important thing about hydrocarbons is that they are all flammable. When combined with oxygen (combustion), a hydrocarbon ALWAYS produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

The ideal reaction only occurs when hydrocarbons are burned in an ample supply of oxygen and at a sufficiently high temperature. With too little oxygen, carbon monoxide is also produced. This is a deadly poison, and many people have been killed by it just because the chimney of their stove became obstructed. At too low a temperature, one of the combustion products is carbon soot; e.g. from a paraffin wax candle.

When burned in air rather than pure oxygen, oxides of nitrogen may also be produced; these are what is found in "smog".
An organic molecule made of nothing more than hydrogen and carbon atoms.
A hydrocarbon contains only hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms. There are a large number of hydrocarbons, but the simplest is CH4 (methane).

One important thing about hydrocarbons is that they are all flammable. When combined with oxygen (combustion), a hydrocarbon ALWAYS produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

The ideal reaction only occurs when hydrocarbons are burned in an ample supply of oxygen and at a sufficiently high temperature. With too little oxygen, carbon monoxide is also produced. This is a deadly poison, and many people have been killed by it just because the chimney of their stove became obstructed. At too low a temperature, one of the combustion products is carbon soot; e.g. from a paraffin wax candle.

When burned in air rather than pure oxygen, oxides of nitrogen may also be produced; these are what is found in "smog".
An organic molecule made of nothing more than hydrogen and carbon atoms.

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Annel Haro

Lvl 3
3y ago

apex::a molecule containing only carbon and hydrogen

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Wiki User

11y ago

A molecule that conains only hydrogen and carbon.

A hydrocarbon can have add-ons like Oxygen, which makes it a diffrent hydrocarbon.

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Wiki User

9y ago

Hydrocarbon gases contain hydrogen and carbon, and the simplest is methane, CH4. When burned with oxygen they form carbon-dioxide and water and the process produces heat.

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Wiki User

13y ago

Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen.

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Wiki User

13y ago

Hydrocarbons are compounds that are made up of hydrogen and carbon only. Different types of hydrocarbons include alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and arenes.

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Wiki User

6y ago

A hydrocarbon - is any molecule that contains atoms of carbon fused with atoms of hydrogen.

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Wiki User

7y ago

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen: methane, ethane, propane, butane, benzene, acetylene, etc.

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