
Hydrocarbon - Wikipedia
In the fossil fuel industries, hydrocarbon refers to naturally occurring petroleum, natural gas and coal, or their hydrocarbon derivatives and purified forms. Combustion of hydrocarbons is the main source of …
Hydrocarbon | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 17, 2025 · Hydrocarbons are the principal constituents of petroleum and natural gas and serve as fuels, lubricants, and raw materials for various products. Learn about the types, structures, and uses …
Understanding Hydrocarbons: Definition, Types, Companies & Uses
Aug 27, 2025 · A hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon found in crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Hydrocarbons are highly combustible and the main energy source of …
What are Hydrocarbons? Formulas & Examples - ChemTalk
As mentioned above, hydrocarbons are organic compounds that consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are the simplest and most common type of organic compound, and are the building …
Hydrocarbon - Energy Education
The term hydrocarbon refers to the most basic type of organic molecules. As suggested by their name, they are comprised of only 2 elements: hydrogen and carbon. [1] Hydrocarbon molecules have one …
HYDROCARBON Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of HYDROCARBON is an organic compound (such as acetylene or butane) containing only carbon and hydrogen and often occurring in petroleum, natural gas, coal, and bitumens.
HYDROCARBON | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
Add to word list biology, chemistry a chemical combination of hydrogen (= a gas) and carbon (= a chemical element that is in all animals and plants), found in fuels (Definition of hydrocarbon from the …
HYDROCARBON Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
HYDROCARBON definition: any of a class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, as an alkane, methane, CH 4 , an alkene, ethylene, C 2 H 4 , an alkyne, acetylene, C 2 H 2 , or an …
What Is a Hydrocarbon? Definition, Types, and Uses
Jan 3, 2026 · Hydrocarbon molecules are defined by the chemical nature of their two constituent atoms: carbon and hydrogen. Carbon is unique in its ability to form four stable covalent bonds, allowing it to …
24.2: Introduction to Hydrocarbons - Chemistry LibreTexts
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. The four general classes of hydrocarbons are: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and arenes. Aromatic compounds derive their names …