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Hydrocarbon
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, a hydrocarbon is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> consisting entirely of <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a> and <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a>.: 620 Hydrocarbons are examples of <a href="/facts/Group_14_hydride/FJCJfUtm">group 14 hydrides</a>. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and <a href="/facts/Hydrophobe/Ifya0CXQ">hydrophobic</a>; their odor is usually faint, and may be similar to that of <a href="/facts/Gasoline/lcnxq5BS">gasoline</a> or <a href="/facts/Naphtha/DpzLNMey">lighter fluid</a>. They occur in a diverse range of molecular structures and phases: they can be <a href="/facts/Gas/hVVAoodV">gases</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Methane/kBHneYnh">methane</a> and <a href="/facts/Propane/E0b23KGh">propane</a>), <a href="/facts/Liquid/t9GkLWzt">liquids</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Hexane/JxPecNPt">hexane</a> and <a href="/facts/Benzene/Fguue7nr">benzene</a>), low melting <a href="/facts/Solid/hj5UsXno">solids</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Paraffin_wax/11Dyraqg">paraffin wax</a> and <a href="/facts/Naphthalene/RU2sV8mN">naphthalene</a>) or <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymers</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polyethylene</a> and <a href="/facts/Polystyrene/dfIVntty">polystyrene</a>). </p><p>In the <a href="/facts/Fossil_fuel/BPgxAqB7">fossil fuel</a> industries, <i>hydrocarbon</i> refers to naturally occurring <a href="/facts/Petroleum/IQV0bHVd">petroleum</a>, <a href="/facts/Natural_gas/9MYQ7NAP">natural gas</a> and <a href="/facts/Coal/83kV3qxg">coal</a>, or their hydrocarbon derivatives and purified forms. Combustion of hydrocarbons is the main source of the world's energy. Petroleum is the dominant raw-material source for organic <a href="/facts/Commodity_chemicals/qnKIcKIx">commodity chemicals</a> such as solvents and polymers. Most anthropogenic (human-generated) emissions of <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas/HXaHqrT8">greenhouse gases</a> are either <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a> released by the burning of <a href="/facts/Fossil_fuels/BPgxAqB7">fossil fuels</a>, or methane released from the handling of natural gas or from agriculture. </p>