Introduction

Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms Hydrocarbons are widely used as fuels (like natural gas, gasoline, and propane) and are the source material for many other organic chemicals used in medicines, plastics, and dyes. Hydrocarbons are a class of chemicals that contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms. Some have hydrogen with rings of carbon atoms. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, their odor is usually faint, and may be similar to that of gasoline or lighter fluid The four main types of hydrocarbons are alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons Hydrocarbons are made from organic matter (mostly tiny marine organisms like algae, bacteria, and plankton, not dinosaurs) that are buried under layers of sediment.