hydrocarbon

/ˌˈhaɪdroʊˌˈkɑrbən/

/ˈhaɪdrəʊkɑbɪn/

Other forms: hydrocarbons

Definitions of hydrocarbon

1. noun

   an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen
   types:

   chlorobenzene

   a colorless volatile flammable liquid with an almond odor that is made from chlorine and benzene; used as a solvent and in the production of phenol and DDT and other organic compounds

   aromatic compound

   a hydrocarbon containing one or more benzene rings that are characteristic of the benzene series of compounds

   gasohol

   a gasoline substitute consisting of 90% gasoline and 10% grain alcohol from corn

   gas, gasolene, gasoline, petrol

   a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

   coal oil, kerosene, kerosine, lamp oil

   a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters

   aromatic hydrocarbon

   a hydrocarbon that contains one or more benzene rings that are characteristic of the benzene series of organic compounds

   indene

   a colorless liquid hydrocarbon extracted from petroleum or coal tar and used in making synthetic resins

   cymene

   any of three isotopes of a colorless aromatic liquid hydrocarbon occurring in the volatile oil of cumin and thyme and used in the manufacture of synthetic resins

   dioxin

   any of several toxic or carcinogenic hydrocarbons that occur as impurities in herbicides

   C2H6, ethane

   a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel

   bottled gas, liquefied petroleum gas

   hydrocarbon gases, usually propane or butane, kept under pressure

   bitumen

   any of various naturally occurring impure mixtures of hydrocarbons

   butadiene

   a gaseous hydrocarbon C4H6; used in making synthetic rubbers

   naphtha

   any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents

   naphthalene

   a white crystalline strong-smelling hydrocarbon made from coal tar or petroleum and used in organic synthesis and as a fumigant in mothballs

   pyrene

   a pale yellow crystalline hydrocarbon C16H10 extracted from coal tar

   octane

   any isomeric saturated hydrocarbon found in petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent

   gas oil

   an oil formed through distillation of petroleum of intermediate boiling range and viscosity

   terpene

   an unsaturated hydrocarbon obtained from plants

   provitamin

   vitamin precursor; a substance that is converted into a vitamin in animal tissues

   leaded gasoline, leaded petrol

   gasoline treated with a lead compound to reduce motor knocks

   benzene, benzine, benzol

   a colorless liquid hydrocarbon; highly inflammable; carcinogenic; the simplest of the aromatic compounds

   pitch, tar

   any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue

   chloroprene

   derivative of butadiene used in making neoprene by polymerization

   paraffin, paraffin oil

   (British usage) kerosine

   limonene

   a liquid terpene with a lemon odor; found in lemons and oranges and other essential oils

   napalm

   gasoline jelled with aluminum soaps; highly incendiary liquid used in fire bombs and flamethrowers

   unleaded gasoline, unleaded petrol

   gasoline that has not been treated with a lead compound

   carotene, carotin, provitamin A

   an orange isomer of an unsaturated hydrocarbon found in many plants; is converted into vitamin A in the liver

   type of:

   organic compound

   any compound of carbon and another element or a radical