Hydrocarbons - Tankasuiso (English spelling)

Japanese: 炭化水素 - たんかすいそ（英語表記）hydrocarbon

A general term for compounds consisting only of carbon and hydrogen. Carbon-carbon bonds form the skeleton of organic molecules and serve as the base for organic compounds. Depending on the arrangement of the carbon atoms that make up the skeleton, they are broadly classified as chain hydrocarbons and cyclic hydrocarbons, which are further classified as saturated compounds and unsaturated compounds with double or triple bonds. Aromatic hydrocarbons are special types of cyclic hydrocarbons. The classification is shown in the figure below along with examples of basic compounds.

[Takeo Sato and Masaru Hirota]

Existence

They are produced in large quantities as the main components of petroleum and natural gas. The plant kingdom also contains various hydrocarbons, including terpenes. Raw rubber obtained from rubber trees is an example of a polymeric hydrocarbon produced from plants.

[Takeo Sato and Masaru Hirota]

Applications

It is widely used as a variety of fuels and solvents. Various hydrocarbons are produced from petroleum crude oil through reforming processes. Natural gas is increasingly being used in large quantities as city gas. Raw rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc. are examples of hydrocarbon polymers.

Furthermore, hydrocarbons emitted as gas into the atmosphere become a source of air pollution. In other words, in polluted air, photochemical reactions between hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides cause photochemical smog. For this reason, emission standards are currently set by the Air Pollution Control Act and the Offensive Odor Control Act.

[Takeo Sato and Masaru Hirota]

Yasuhiko Kurusu, "Chemistry of Hydrocarbons: Overview and Oxygen Oxidation Reactions" (2001, IPC)

Classification of Hydrocarbons (Diagram)
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Classification of Hydrocarbons (Diagram)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

炭素と水素のみからなる化合物の総称。炭素‐炭素結合により有機分子の骨格をつくり、有機化合物の母体になっている。骨格を構成する炭素原子の配列により、鎖式炭化水素と環式炭化水素に大別され、それぞれが飽和化合物、二重結合、三重結合をもつ不飽和化合物に分類される。環式炭化水素の特別なものとして芳香族炭化水素がある。図に基本的化合物の例とともに分類を示す。

［佐藤武雄・廣田　穰］