A compound which is composed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Examples of hydrocarbons include methane, ethane, and propane. They are found in meteorites, comets, and nebulae.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical compounds that consist of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They form the main components of petroleum and natural gas and are used as fuel for energy and as the feedstock for producing many useful products such as plastics. There are three main classes based on the types of carbon–carbon bonds. Saturated hydrocarbons contain only single carbon–carbon bonds as alkanes or cycloalkanes. Unsaturated hydrocarbons contain carbon–carbon multiple bonds, such as alkenes and alkynes. Aromatic hydrocarbons are a special class of cyclic compounds and are related to benzene.
Geology and Earth Sciences
Naturally occurring organic compound containing carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons may be gaseous, solid, or liquid, and include natural gas, bitumen, and petroleum.