Question on: SS2 Chemistry - Organic Chemistry I: Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They can be classified into several categories based on their structure:

1.    Alkanes: Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. They have the general formula CnH2n+2. Alkanes are relatively inert and have low reactivity. They are commonly used as fuels due to their high energy content. Examples of alkanes include methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8).

2.    Alkenes: Alkenes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond. They have the general formula CnH2n. Alkenes exhibit greater reactivity than alkanes due to the presence of the double bond. They are used in the production of polymers, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Examples of alkenes include ethene (C2H4) and propene (C3H6).

3.    Alkynes: Alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbons that contain at least one carbon-carbon triple bond. They have the general formula CnH2n-2. Alkynes are even more reactive than alkenes due to the presence of the triple bond. They find applications in the synthesis of organic compounds and as starting materials for the production of plastics and synthetic fibres. Examples of alkynes include ethyne (C2H2) and propyne (C3H4).

4.    Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic hydrocarbons are characterised by a ring structure with alternating double bonds, known as a benzene ring. They exhibit unique properties and are often used as solvents, fuel additives, or as precursors in the production of various chemicals. Benzene (C6H6) is a well-known aromatic hydrocarbon, along with toluene (C7H8) and xylene (C8H10).