Answer
We can classify hydrocarbons into four different types: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Work Step by Step
Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes— also called aliphatic hydrocarbons —are differentiated based on the kinds of bonds between carbon atoms. Aromatic hydrocarbons contain a benzene ring in their structure.
The generic formula of hydrocarbons are:
Alkane : (All single bonds) : $C_{n}H_{2n+2}$
Alkene : (One(or more) double bonds) : $C_{n}H_{2n}$
Alkyne : (One(or more) triple bonds) : $C_{n}H_{2n-2}$
$n$ is the number of carbon atoms. These formulas apply only to noncyclic structures containing no more than one multiple bond.
