Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming the structural backbone of petroleum, natural gas, and a vast range of synthetic materials. They are classified by bonding and architecture into aliphatic and aromatic families. Aliphatic hydrocarbons include the saturated …
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming the structural backbone of petroleum, natural gas, and a vast range of synthetic materials. They are classified by bonding and architecture into aliphatic and aromatic families. Aliphatic hydrocarbons include the saturated alkanes, which contain only single carbon-carbon bonds, and the unsaturated alkenes and alkynes, which contain double and triple bonds respectively and are correspondingly more reactive. Cyclic arrangements give rise to cycloalkanes, while aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene possess delocalized pi-electron systems that confer distinctive stability and reactivity. The physical properties of hydrocarbons, including boiling point, volatility, and viscosity, scale with molecular size and branching, which underpins the fractional distillation of crude oil into fuels, solvents, lubricants, and petrochemical feedstocks. Combustion releases energy along with carbon dioxide and, under incomplete conditions, carbon monoxide and particulates. Many hydrocarbons, particularly polycyclic aromatic and volatile species, are environmentally persistent and toxicologically significant, entering soil and water through spills, effluents, and industrial activity. Research on hydrocarbons therefore spans synthesis and catalysis, separation and refining, combustion chemistry, and the environmental fate, monitoring, and remediation of contamination in natural systems.
5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 5 articles above have been cited 7 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Hydrocarbons, linking to each citing work.