Section Test 21.1 & 21.2 Hydrocarbons And Alkanes

A hydrocarbon is a compound made up of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. These two elements combine to form various hydrocarbons, such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8). The other options mentioned in the question, hydrogen & chlorine and carbon & calcium, do not form hydrocarbons.

Methane is the correct answer because it is the simplest alkane, consisting of a single carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. Alkanes are a type of hydrocarbon that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms and are saturated with hydrogen atoms. Cyclobutane, benzene, and toluene are not alkanes as they contain double bonds or aromatic rings.

A hydrocarbon is a compound composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. It can exist as a single atom, a molecule, or an organic compound. The term "organic" refers to compounds that contain carbon and are typically found in living organisms. Therefore, a hydrocarbon can be classified as an organic compound.

Saturated hydrocarbons have single bonds. This is because saturated hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds between carbon atoms. These single bonds allow each carbon atom to be bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, resulting in a saturated structure. In contrast, unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as alkenes and alkynes, have double or triple bonds between carbon atoms.

Most liquid hydrocarbons are obtained from petroleum. Petroleum is a naturally occurring fossil fuel that is found underground in reservoirs. It is formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms that have been subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, including liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. It is the primary source of liquid hydrocarbons used for various purposes, including transportation, heating, and electricity generation.

Fractional distillation is a process used to separate the different components of raw petroleum based on their boiling points. By heating the petroleum, the substances with lower boiling points vaporize first and are collected separately. This process allows the raw petroleum to be separated into simpler compounds such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, which can then be used for various purposes. Therefore, the answer "separates it into simpler compounds" accurately describes what fractional distillation does to raw petroleum.