What do hydrocarbons do

As a result, many alternative energy sources that are safer and cleaner have been developed, such as solar and wind.

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Oil Guide to Investing in Oil Markets. Commodities Oil. Table of Contents Expand. What Is a Hydrocarbon? Understanding Hydrocarbons. Some Hydrocarbon Companies. Special Considerations. Alternatives to Hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon FAQs. The Bottom Line. Key Takeaways Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds that are utilized as the basis of the vast majority of global energy production.

A variety of complex technologies and techniques have been developed for extracting hydrocarbons from deep within the earth. Some of the world's largest companies are hydrocarbon companies, primarily oil and gas companies. The use of hydrocarbons as an energy source has negatively impacted the world's climate in a significant way, resulting in climate change.

Because of the serious environmental cost of using hydrocarbons as a primary source of energy, attempts to move away from them towards alternative energy sources, such as solar, nuclear, wind, and geothermal power have increased significantly.

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Its supply is finite. High-purity isobutane can also be used as a refrigerant. Natural gasoline also known as pentanes plus can be blended into the fuels used in internal combustion engines, particularly motor gasoline. In the United States, natural gasoline may be added to fuel ethanol as a denaturant to make fuel ethanol undrinkable, as required by law.

Some ethanol producers use natural gasoline to make E The United States exports natural gasoline to Canada where it is used as a diluent to reduce viscosity for Canada's heavy crude oil so that it can be more easily moved in pipelines and railcars. Hydrocarbon gas liquids explained Uses of hydrocarbon gas liquids. What is energy? Units and calculators. Use of energy. Energy and the environment. Also in What is energy?

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Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids. This is known as catenation. Common hydrocarbons:. Almost all hydrocarbons occur naturally in crude oils, like petroleum and natural gas. Since crude oil is made of decomposed organic matter, it is abundant in hydrogen and carbon atoms.

They are also present in different trees and plants, and form a natural pigment called carotene, that can be found in carrots and green leaves. Hydrocarbons are the most widely used organic compound on the planet, and the main component of VOCs. They are considered the driving force for modern civilization, because the makeup fossil fuels.

These fuels are used for combustion, specifically in heating and motor fuel applications. Hydrocarbons like propane and butane are used in lanterns, lighters, grills, and as fuel for internal combustion units. Pentane, another common hydrocarbon. When saturate, pentane becomes a room temperature liquid; this liquid is used as an organic solvent, transport fuels, and cleansers.

Liquid hydrocarbons are rated in combustion properties, relative to octane; ie; gasoline for internal combustion in engines in cars, trucks, and lawnmowers. Slightly larger hydrocarbon molecules, known as kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and oil for heating. The larger the hydrocarbons, the thicker the compound. Large hydrocarbons are often used as engine lubricants, and greases. Anything thicker than that, and they form a wax or tar like substance, which is commonly used in highway construction, and roofing.

Most of the hydrocarbons listed above are the result of thermal cracking, and fractional distillation of crude oils. But another very common source is the industrial processing of ethanol, to produce ethylene. The ethylene produced is used for the industrial synthesis of other hydrocarbons.

On their own, hydrocarbons pose no risk.