szénhidrogények

Szénhidrogének are organic chemical compounds composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They form the basis of many natural and synthetic materials. The simplest hydrocarbon is methane, with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons can exist as straight chains, branched chains, or rings of carbon atoms. The number of carbon atoms in a molecule dictates its physical properties, such as boiling point and state at room temperature. Smaller hydrocarbons like methane, ethane, and propane are gases, while larger ones like octane and dodecane are liquids and solids. Hydrocarbons are a major source of energy, with fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas being complex mixtures of various hydrocarbons. These fuels are extracted and refined to produce gasoline, diesel, and other valuable products. Hydrocarbons are also fundamental building blocks for the petrochemical industry, used to create plastics, solvents, and a vast array of synthetic materials. Their reactivity varies, with saturated hydrocarbons, called alkanes, being relatively unreactive, while unsaturated hydrocarbons, containing double or triple bonds, are more prone to chemical reactions.