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Glossary:Hydrocarbon

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A compound formed essentially of carbon and hydrogen.

Hydrocarbons are composed of many different “components” or molecules of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Starting with the lightest molecular weight, they are:

  • methane (CH4)
  • ethane (C2H6)
  • propane (C3H8)
  • butane (C4H10)
  • pentane (C5H12)
  • hexane (C6H14)

As the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms increases, the molecules become “heavier” and have a greater tendency to exist as a liquid rather than a gas.