hydrocarbon
|hy-dro-car-bon|
🇺🇸
/ˌhaɪdroʊˈkɑrbən/
🇬🇧
/ˌhaɪdrəʊˈkɑːbən/
organic compound of hydrogen and carbon
Etymology
'hydrocarbon' originates from the combination of 'hydro-' meaning 'water' and 'carbon' referring to the element carbon.
'hydrocarbon' was formed in the 19th century as a scientific term to describe compounds made of hydrogen and carbon.
Initially, it meant 'compounds of hydrogen and carbon,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
Methane is a simple hydrocarbon.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a compound that is a major component of petroleum and natural gas.
Hydrocarbons are extracted during the refining process.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/14 07:51