BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
PREFINALS
CLASSES OF HYDROCARBONS
The term hydrocarbon refers to an
organic chemical compound that is
composed exclusively of hydrogen and
carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons are
naturally occurring and form the basis
of crude oil, natural gas, coal, and
other important energy sources.
TYPES OF HYDROCARBONS
Aliphatic Aromatic
Aliphatic
hydrocarbons are
hydrocarbons
based on chains
of C atoms.
There are three
types of aliphatic
hydrocarbons.
There are a total
of three types of
aliphatic
hydrocarbons.
These are
alkanes, alkenes,
and alky.
Aromatic
hydrocarbons are
cyclic, planar
compounds that
resemble
benzene in
electronic
configuration
and chemical
behavior. The
most common
aromatic
hydrocarbons are
those that
contain a
benzene ring.
Alkanes
The type of hydrocarbons in which all
of the bonds are single bonds.
In the illustration above we can see
the expanded form CH3-CH3.
Alkenes
The type of hydrocarbons that contain
a carbon-carbon double bond.
In the illustration above we can see
the expanded form of CH2-CH2
