Use of Hydrocarbon Compounds in Everyday Life

Use of Hydrocarbon Compounds in Everyday Life As discussed at the beginning of the chapter that hydrocarbons are carbon compounds that are only composed of the elements carbon and hydrogen elements and are grouped into two groups, namely aliphatic hydrocarbons which include alkanes, alkenes and alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons which include benzene and its derivative compounds. All fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are the main sources of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons (oil and gas) are mostly used as fuel to produce energy and to heat space. Petroleum refining produces gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil,lubricating oil, waxes and bitumen. Relatively small (4%) use of petroleum for chemical industry raw materials that produce materials essential for everyday life, such as plastics, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. A more complete explanation of petroleum and the compounds it produces through fractional distillation will be discussed in the chapter Petroleum and natural gas. Unsaturated chain hydrocarbons have important uses as raw materials for the chemical and polymer industries. Hydrocarbons have a very large number of derivative compounds, and it canbe said that all carbon compounds or organic compounds are derived compounds of hydrocarbons because the main constituent elements are hydrogen and carbon. Compounds derived from hydrocarbons have very many uses and cover all areas of life. As for some of the uses of compounds derived from hydrocarbons, among others, as follows. A. Food Sector Some chemicals consist only of carbon and hydrogen (hydrocarbons). Hydrocarbons are used in industry, particularly in the petroleum and liquid asphalt industries. Chemical energy is stored in hydrocarbons, the constituent elements of which are carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons obtain energy from the sun when plants use sunlight during photosynthesis to produce glucose (food). Glucose, the simplest carbohydrate flows in the bloodstream so it is available to all body cells. The body's cells absorb glucose. This sugar is then oxidized (burned) by the cells with the help of oxygen that we breathe into energy and CO2 gas in the form of respiration (breathing). Energy that is produced and not used will be stored under the skin tissue in the form of fat. The reaction of burning sugar in the body: B. Clothing sector Compounds derived from hydrocarbons that play a role in the clothing sector include cotton, wool (a protein), silk (a protein), nylon (a polymer), and synthetic fibers. C. Field Board In the field of boards, the hydrocarbon derivative compounds that play a role, among others cellulose, wood, lignin, and polymers. D. Trading Sector Crude oil is a hydrocarbon compound which is a very important trading commodity for the world because petroleum is one of the most important sources of energy at this time. The world's oil-producing countries formed an inter-oil-producing organization called OPEC (Organization of Petrolleum Exporting Country). The results of petroleum distillation produce many hydrocarbon compounds which are very important for human life, such as gasoline, petroleum ether (kerosene), LPG gas, lubricating oil, wax, and asphalt. E. Art and Aesthetics In the field of art, the hydrocarbon compounds that are often used include wax to coat a sculptural work to make it look more shiny. There are even artists who make sculptures out of wax by condensing wax in large sizes and then sculpting or sculpting it according to the artist's wishes. Besides that, there is also the art of coloring, both on cloth and other objects using chemical compounds. Materials that are coated with wax will look more attractiven and besides that they will also be protected from water because water cannot react with wax due to differences in polarity.