09 Classification of hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons
- are organic compounds made of carbon and hydrogen only.
- All other organic compounds are regarded as derivatives of them (one or more H atoms replaced by another atom or group).
Classification:
- Aliphatic (open-chain) hydrocarbons
- Saturated: alkanes (only single bonds)
- Unsaturated: alkenes (≥ one C=C), alkynes (≥ one C≡C)
- Cyclic hydrocarbons
- Alicyclic: cycloalkanes (saturated rings)
- Aromatic: benzene and compounds related to it
- The word "aliphatic" comes from "fat": the earliest known members were obtained from fats (fatty acids), rich in hydrogen.
- "Aromatic" compounds were first obtained from pleasant-smelling resins and natural products and contain relatively less hydrogen.