Hydrocarbons
Most of the compounds in crude oil are hydrocarbons. This
means that they only contain hydrogen and carbon atoms, joined together by
chemical bonds. There are three different types of hydrocarbon, but most of the
ones in crude oil are alkanes.
As mentioned, there are three
different types of hydrocarbon and those are alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. We
will focus more on alkanes.
Each of these atoms are linked together exclusively by
single bonds. The alkanes are a family of hydrocarbons that share the same
general formula. This is:
CnH2n+2
Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons.
Saturated compound, as mentioned is a chemical compound that are linked together
exclusively by single bonds.This makes them relatively unreactive, apart from
their reaction with oxygen in the air, which we call burning or combustion.
If a hydrogen is removed from an
alkane, it can be used as a substituent functional group called an alkyl group.
Alkyl groups are named by dropping the -ane suffix of the alkanes and adding
the suffix -yl.
Alkanes
may always benefit human needs in everyday life but it can also harm human life
even in nature too. In result, the nature is affected and so we are. One of the
most useful alkane is methane. When being applied in life we should be more
careful handling it because it can easily explode.
1. Greenhouse Gases
Through
combustion alkanes contributes huge amount of carbon oxide. Anaerobic
decomposition of plants and animal remains contributes methane. Alkanes are converted to CFCs to be used as
propellants in aerosols and as refrigerant gases. It contributes 15- 20% to the greenhouse effect.
2. Less reactive than acids.
This is
because the backbone carbon atoms in alkanes have attained their octet of
electrons through forming four covalent bonds. They are saturated.To make
alkanes react, the input of additional energy is needed; either through heat or
radiation. A lot of energy is needed to break their bonds
Alkanes as generally very
unreactive and their most important reaction is combustion with oxygen.
eg:
octane-> hexane +ethene
Ethene is a very important alkene. It’s used to make ethanol
and many other important substances in industry.
3. Hazards of Alkanes
Alkanes produces asphxiation,
potential carcinogen, flammable, potential explosion hazard that can cause
harm. Methane is also considered as hazard because it can be explosive when
mixed with air (1 – 8% CH4).
Benefits and Advantages of Alkanes:
Alkanes
benefits human needs in their everyday life. It seems to be present all the
time. Even in nature alkanes occurs.
1. Good Fuel.
They're mostly
used as fuel oils. For instances, butane is often used in lighters and propane
is often used for powering grills. Other examples of alkane gases are methane,
ethane, and propane but the most commonly used is butane. Fossil fuels contain many different types of
alkanes as well as other organic molecules which makes them a sought after fuel
source.
2. Higher Alkanes are good lubricants.
3. They are antiseptic for external use.
4. Chemical energy is easily released (used for power).
Alkanes
Everywhere
In Biological Occurrence
Archaea are single-celled organisms lacking nuclei and are
therefore prokaryotes. It produces large quantities of methane by the
metabolism of carbon dioxide or other oxidised organic compounds.
Water
forms droplets on a thin film of alkane wax on the skin of the apple.
Ecological relations
Early spider orchid
One example in which both plant and animal alkanes play a
role, is the ecological relationship between the sand bee (Andrena nigroaenea)
and the early spider orchid (Ophrys sphegodes); the latter is dependent for
pollination on the former. Sand bees use pheromones in order to identify a
mate; in the case of A. nigroaenea, the females emit a mixture of tricosane
(C23H48), pentacosane (C25H52) and heptacosane (C27H56) in the ratio 3:3:1, and
males are attracted by specifically this odor. The orchid takes advantage of
this mating arrangement to get the male bee to collect and disseminate its
pollen; parts of its flower not only resemble the appearance of sand bees, but
also produce large quantities of the three alkanes in the same ratio as female
sand bees.
Early spider orchid
Applications
Alkanes are very useful up to this day. The first four
alkanes are used mainly for heating and cooking purposes, and in some countries
for electricity generation. Methane and ethane are the main components of
natural gas; they are normally stored as gases under pressure. It is however
easier to transport them as liquids: this requires both compression and cooling
of the gas. Methane is the simplest possible alkane (the parent molecule). Did you know that the candle wax is made from
alkane? All waxes used in candles are generally composed of straight-chain
alkanes.
Propane and butane can be liquefied at fairly low pressures,
and are well known as liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Propane, for example, is
used in the propane gas burner, butane in disposable cigarette lighters. It’s
like the main purpose of alkane is giving warmth and fire to us. The two
alkanes are used as propellants in aerosol sprays.
From pentane to octane the alkanes are reasonably volatile
liquids. They are used as fuels in internal combustion engines, as they
vaporise easily on entry into the combustion chamber without forming droplets
which would impair the unifomity of the combustion.
Have you tried to have a spa to relax? How about relaxing and healing? Did you know that in Azerbaijan, people bathe themselves at a warm crude oil? According to locals, sitting in this liquid commodity is great for one's health.
The oil "can heal more than seventy diseases, including neurological diseases, skin conditions and impotence,"Hashim Hashimov, a medical specialist at Naftalan Health Center in Baku, Azerbaijan told Reuters. It is used for health therapy.
References:
http://www.businessinsider.com/crude-oil-baths-in-azerbaijan-2015-7
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