Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Front

Hydrocarbon Noun

---

[hy-droh-kar-buhn]

Back

Hydrocarbon

---

An organic substance composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms, commonly found in petroleum and natural gas.

---

Example: This image shows the chemical structures of different hydrocarbons, which are molecules made of hydrogen and carbon atoms, including a ring-shaped aromatic hydrocarbon.

Front

Saturated Hydrocarbon Noun

---

[sach-uh-rey-tid hy-droh-kar-buhn]

Back

Saturated Hydrocarbon

---

A type of hydrocarbon in which all the bonds between carbon atoms are single bonds, making it fully saturated.

---

Example: This diagram shows the structure of ethane, a saturated hydrocarbon. All carbon atoms are connected by single bonds, holding the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.

Front

Unsaturated Hydrocarbon Noun

---

[uhn-sach-uh-rey-tid hy-droh-kar-buhn]

Back

Unsaturated Hydrocarbon

---

A hydrocarbon that contains at least one double or triple bond between its carbon atoms, allowing for additional reactions.

---

Example: This diagram shows the structure of Benzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon. The double lines between carbon atoms (C=C) represent double bonds, which makes it an unsaturated hydrocarbon.

Front

Fractional Distillation Noun

---

[frak-shuh-nl dis-tuh-ley-shuhn]

Back

Fractional Distillation

---

A process used to separate a liquid mixture into its individual components based on their different boiling points.

---

Example: This diagram shows fractional distillation. Crude oil is heated and enters a tall column, separating into different liquids (fractions) at different temperatures and heights.

Front

Alkane Noun

---

[al-keyn]

Back

Alkane

---

A type of saturated hydrocarbon characterized by having only single covalent bonds between its carbon atoms in the chain.

---

Example: This image shows the first three alkanes: methane, ethane, and propane. Alkanes are hydrocarbons with only single bonds between carbon atoms.

Front

Cycloalkane Noun

---

[sy-kloh-al-keyn]

Back

Cycloalkane

---

A saturated hydrocarbon in which the carbon atoms are joined together to form a ring or cyclic structure.

---

Example: This image displays examples of cycloalkanes, which are hydrocarbons where carbon atoms are joined in a ring, like cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane.

Front

Substituent Group Noun

---

[suhb-stich-oo-uhnt groop]

Back

Substituent Group

---

An atom or group of atoms that replaces a hydrogen atom on the main chain or ring of a hydrocarbon.

---

Example: This diagram shows a generic chemical structure with a highlighted bond (in blue), indicating where a different atom or group of atoms (a substituent) could attach.

Front

Alkene Noun

---

[al-keen]

Back

Alkene

---

An unsaturated hydrocarbon that contains at least one double bond between two carbon atoms in its molecular structure.

---

Example: This diagram shows the structure of ethylene, the simplest alkene. It highlights the key feature of an alkene: a double bond between two carbon atoms (C=C).

Front

Alkyne Noun

---

[al-kahyn]

Back

Alkyne

---

An unsaturated hydrocarbon characterized by the presence of at least one triple bond between two carbon atoms.

---

Example: This diagram shows the structure of acetylene, the simplest alkyne. It features two carbon atoms connected by a triple bond, a defining feature of alkynes.

Front

Aromatic Compound Noun

---

[ar-uh-mat-ik kom-pound]

Back

Aromatic Compound

---

An organic compound containing one or more benzene-like rings, characterized by enhanced stability from delocalized electrons.

---

Example: This image shows an example of an aromatic compound, which contains a special, stable ring of atoms called a benzene ring.