Chemistry · Chapter 14
Study notes aligned to the official NEB syllabus.
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made up of only carbon and hydrogen. They form the framework of organic chemistry and are the main components of natural gas, petroleum and coal. Based on the nature of the carbon-carbon bonds, hydrocarbons are classified as:
Alkanes such as methane $\ce{CH4}$, ethane $\ce{C2H6}$ and propane $\ce{C3H8}$ are also called paraffins (Latin parum affinis, "little affinity") because they are relatively unreactive. Each carbon is $sp^3$ hybridized and tetrahedral (bond angle $109.5^\circ$).
$$\ce{CH2=CH2 + H2 ->[Ni][\Delta] CH3-CH3}$$
$$\ce{2CH3Cl + 2Na -> CH3-CH3 + 2NaCl}$$
$$\ce{CH3COONa + NaOH ->[CaO][\Delta] CH4 + Na2CO3}$$
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made up of only carbon and hydrogen. They form the framework of organic chemistry and are the main components of natural gas, petroleum and coal. Based on the nature of the carbon-carbon bonds, hydrocarbons are classified as:
Alkanes such as methane , ethane and propane are also called paraffins (Latin parum affinis, "little affinity") because they are relatively unreactive. Each carbon is hybridized and tetrahedral (bond angle ).