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Glossary:Hydrocarbon
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Chemical compounds consisting wholly of carbon and hydrogen. (SPE)
Hydrocarbons are composed of many different “components” or molecules of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Starting with the lightest molecular weight, they are:
- methane (CH4)
- ethane (C2H6)
- propane (C3H8)
- butane (C4H10)
- pentane (C5H12)
- hexane (C6H14)
As the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms increases, the molecules become “heavier” and have a greater tendency to exist as a liquid rather than a gas.