Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They can be found in fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and are the primary source of energy for most of the world. They can also be found in many naturally occurring substances, such as plants and animals.
There are three main types of hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons and have only single bonds between carbon atoms. Alkenes have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds and are unsaturated. Alkynes have one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds and are also unsaturated.
Hydrocarbons have important industrial applications, including the production of plastics, synthetic rubbers, and chemicals. They are also used as fuels for heating, transportation, and electricity generation. However, the burning of fossil fuels for energy releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change.