http://www.ck12.org Chapter 3. Chemical Interactions
FIGURE 3.56
Motor oil: Motor oil consists of several
hydrocarbons. It lubricates the moving
parts of car engines. Asphalt: Asphalt
pavement on highways is made of hy-
drocarbons found in petroleum. Candle:
Many candles are made of paraffin wax,
a solid mixture of hydrocarbons. Lighter:
This lighter burns the hydrocarbon named
butane. Rain Boots: These rain boots
are made of a mixture of several hydro-
carbons. Transportation: These forms
of transportation are fueled by different
mixtures of hydrocarbons.
FIGURE 3.57
Open-Pit Coal Mine
- Hydrocarbons are placed in two basic classes—saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons—based on the number
of bonds between their carbon atoms. - Hydrocarbons have a wide variety of important uses, but their most important use is as fuels.
- The main source of hydrocarbons is fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
Vocabulary
- hydrocarbon: Carbon-based compound that contains only carbon and hydrogen.