Chemistry · Ch 13 — Hydrocarbons
Introduction and Classification of Alkanes (Hydrocarbons)
Introduction and Classification of Alkanes (Hydrocarbons)
Hydrocarbons -- compounds built entirely of carbon and hydrogen -- are classified by the bonding pattern between their carbon atoms into two main families: aliphatic (from the Greek 'aleiphar', fat; sourced chiefly from oils and fats) and aromatic (from 'aroma', odour, since the first known members came from pleasant-smelling plant extracts). Aliphatic hydrocarbons further split into alkanes (all C-C bonds single, saturated), alkenes (at least one C=C double bond) and alkynes (at least one C-C triple bond); alkenes and alkynes, having localised multiple bonds, are together called unsaturated hydrocarbons. Aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes) are cyclic compounds built around the characterist …
What this figure shows. A tree diagram with 'HYDROCARBON' at the top branching into two families: Aromatic hydrocarbon/Arenes (unsaturated, e.g. Benzene) on one side, and Aliphatic hydrocarbon on the other, which itself branches into three saturated/unsaturated sub-families -- Alkanes (e.g. Ethane), Alkenes (e.g. Ethene) and Alkynes (e.g. Ethyne) -- with a further acyclic/cyclic split shown …