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Hydrocarbons are solid, liquid and gaseous compounds with molecules containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms in different numbers and arrangements.

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Left: Ethine  burns with a bright soot-producing flame.
Middle: Methane(CH₄) is the main component of natural gas, butane (C₄H₁₀) is found in cigarette lighters,
octanes(C₈H₁₈) are components of petrol, hexadecanes (C₁₆H₃₄) are part of Diesel fuel.
Right: The plastics polypropylene (5 PP), polystyrene (6 PS) and expanded polystyrene (6 EPS)
are other examples of hydrocarbons.