9.2. Hydrocarbons http://www.ck12.org
FIGURE 9.11
These two bunches of bananas were
stored in different ways. The bananas
on the right were stored in the open air.
The bananas on the left were stored in a
special bag that absorbs the ethene they
release. The bananas in the bag have not
yet turned brown because they were not
exposed to ethene.ethyne, which has just two carbon atoms. Ethyne is also called acetylene. It is burned in acetylene torches, like the
one inFigure9.13. Acetylene produces so much heat when it burns that it can melt metal. Breaking all those bonds
between carbon atoms releases a lot of energy.
FIGURE 9.12
Ethyne is the smallest alkyne.FIGURE 9.13
This acetylene torch is being used to cut
metal.Alkynes may form straight or branched chains. They rarely occur as cycloalkynes. In fact, alkynes of all shapes are
relatively rare, at least in nature.