Hydrocarbon Compounds

Hydrocarbon Compounds The simplest carbon compounds are hydrocarbons because they only consist of two elements, namely carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). Nevertheless the number of compounds produced from these two elements is very large. There are various types of carbon atoms, namely primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carbon atoms. The specialty of the carbon atom which can form as many as 4 covalent bonds and its ability to form carbon chains, causes carbon atoms to have different positions. These positions are: 1. 2. 3. 4. Primary carbon atom, namely the carbon atom that is directly bonded to 1 other carbon atom. Secondary carbon atom, the carbon atom that is directly bonded to 2 other carbon atoms. Tertiary carbon atom, the carbon atom that is directly bonded to 3 other carbon atoms. Quaternary carbon atoms, namely carbon atoms that are directly bonded to 4nother carbon atoms. Consider the following example : From the example above, you can see the number of carbon atoms at each position, namely: primary : 5 (which is marked1°) secondary : 3 (which is marked 2°) tertiary 1 (which is marked 3°) 1 (which quaternary : is marked 4) °) Individual Task Count the number of primary C, secondary C, tertiary C, and quaternary C atoms in each of the following hydrocarbon compounds! Classification of Hydrocarbons Classification of hydrocarbons is based on two things, namely the shape of the carbon chain and the type of bond. 1. Based on the shape of the carbon chain a. Aliphatic carbon chain, i.e. open carbon chain. This carbon chain aliphatic can be straight or branched. Example: b. Cyclic carbon chain, i.e. closed carbon chain. Distinguished on carbocyclic and heterocyclic. 1) Carbocyclic is a cyclic carbon compound whose circular chain consists of only C atoms. Carbocyclics include aromatic and alicyclic compounds. a) Aromatic compounds are carbocyclic compounds consisting of 6 or more carbon atoms that have conjugated double bonds. Example: b) Alicyclic compounds are carbocyclic compounds that have only single bonds. Example: 2) Heterocyclic is a carbocyclic compound in which there are atoms other than carbon atoms in the circular chain. Example: 2. Based on the Type of Bond a. Saturated bonds, if all the carbon bonds are single bonds (– C –C –). Example: b. An unsaturated bond, if it contains double (– C = C –) or triple (– C ÿ C –) bonds in the carboncarbon bond. It is said to be unsaturated because the double bonds, both double and triple, can still experience bond breaking. Example: Exercise. 1. Explain the difference between organic and inorganic compounds! 2. How to test for the presence of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in carbon compounds! 3. Explain the uniqueness of the carbon atom! 4. Explain the difference between aliphatic carbon chains and cyclic carbon chains along with examples of each! 5. Explain the difference between saturated bonds and unsaturated bonds in hydrocarbon compounds along with examples of each!