Hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbons are any organic compounds containing only a hydrogen and carbon. Many hydrocarbons are found in nature not being created by man. Hydrocarbons are divided into two main groups which are then divided again, the Aromatic and Aliphatic groups. The study of hydrocarbons is necessary in some fields of engineering, like petroleum engineering. Not only are hydrocarbons useful for study of other topics, but also in our day to day life are hydrocarbons very useful.

Properties
Hydrocarbons can be either a liquid, gas, or solids. With hydrocarbons possessing all three states of matter it makes hydrocarbons all the more useful in our daily lives. The physical property of alkenes have higher boiling points than alkynes and alkanes. The reason for that is because their electric field is quite easily warped permitting a stronger attraction between molecules.

Occurrences
Many of the hydrocarbons are found in nature and not man made. For example they can not only be found in the earth's subsurface but also in trees and plants. Geologists and geoscientists have the special tools, both chemically and technically, to find hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons occur in the earth's subsurface. And for the scientists to reach the hydrocarbons they must dig a well, and even after all the research the scientists go through only a third of the well that they drill will be real. Geologically exploration is the best way to keep increasing the reserves. In just 2010 there was a documented amount of over 547.7 billion cubic meters of gas, and had a replenishment rate of 108%.

Alkenes are found, in abundance, in essential oils in trees or other plants. Some alkenes, myrcene and limoene, are both found in bayberry and lime oil. While ethylene is made in tiny increments found in plant hormones. Naturally occurring hydrocarbons are also the pigments. For example, lycopene is the cause for the red color in tomatoes and watermelons.

Uses
Hydrocarbons are the most basic organic compound known to man. Many of the hydrocarbons can very easily catch on fire, and when burned these hydrocarbons turn into water, carbon dioxide, and also heat.

The liquid form of hydrocarbons can be utilized to provide many needed things in our culture today such as oil, gasoline, and fuels. Crude oil, unrefined petroleum, can also be used in the making of asphalts, lubricants, paraffin wax, and petrochemicals. Even more can be created with petroleum like fertilizer or house paint. Methane is also a hydrocarbon in the liquid stage. The gas liquid form of hydrocarbons also preforms many useful things in our daily lives. Bordering the gas/liquid state allows their versatility and high energy density permits them to make use in many different ways. Such as: fuels (for heating, transportation, cooking, and drying), diluent of transportation of heavy crude oil, additives in motor gasoline, and feedstock in petrochemical plants.