Hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon 2 molecules

Organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen are called hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbon molecules may be divided into the classes of cyclic and open-chain depending on whether they contain a ring of carbon atoms. Open-chain molecules may be divided into branched or straight-chain categories. 

The fluids contained within petroleum accumulations are mixtures of organic compounds, which are mostly hydrocarbons (molecules composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms), but may also include sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen and metal compounds. This section will concentrate on the hydrocarbons, but will explain the significance of the other compounds in the processing of the fluids. 

Haag W O, Lago R M and Weisz P B 1982 Transport and reactivity of hydrocarbon molecules in a shape-selective zeolite Faraday Disouss. Chem. Soo. 72 317-30... 

We began this section with an inquiry into how to define the size of a polymer molecule. In addition to the molecular weight or the degree of polymerization, some linear dimension which characterizes the molecule could also be used for this purpose. For purposes of orientation, let us again consider a hydrocarbon molecule stretched out to its full length but without any bond distortion. There are several features to note about this situation ... 

A fully extended hydrocarbon molecule will have the familiar zigzag profile... 

Fig. 3. Adsorption of hydrocarbons by 2eobtes is much greater for unsaturated hydrocarbons whose molecules contain double or triple bonds. From top to bottom, the curves show adsorption (at 150°C) of propjiene, ethylene, acetjiene, and isobutjiene (unsaturated) and propane, ethane, and methane...

Carbon-centered radicals generally react very rapidly with oxygen to generate peroxy radicals (eq. 2). The peroxy radicals can abstract hydrogen from a hydrocarbon molecule to yield a hydroperoxide and a new radical (eq. 3). This new radical can participate in reaction 2 and continue the chain. Reactions 2 and 3 are the propagation steps. Except under oxygen starved conditions, reaction 3 is rate limiting. 

The chemistry of propylene is characterized both by the double bond and by the aHyUc hydrogen atoms. Propylene is the smallest stable unsaturated hydrocarbon molecule that exhibits low order symmetry, ie, only reflection along the main plane. This loss of symmetry, which implies the possibiUty of different types of chemical reactions, is also responsible for the existence of the propylene dipole moment of 0.35 D. Carbon atoms 1 and 2 have trigonal planar geometry identical to that of ethylene. Generally, these carbons are not free to rotate, because of the double bond. Carbon atom 3 is tetrahedral, like methane, and is free to rotate. The hydrogen atoms attached to this carbon are aUyflc. 

Fischer-Tropsch. Caibon monoxide is catalyticaily hydrogenated to a mixtuie of straight-chain aliphatic, olefinic, and oxygenated hydrocarbon molecules in the Fischer-Tropsch reaction (eq. 11) (see Fuels, synthetic). 

Progressive chlorination of a hydrocarbon molecule yields a succession of Hquids and/or soHds of increasing nonflammability, density, and viscosity, as well as improved solubiUty for a large number of inorganic and organic materials. Other physical properties such as specific heat, dielectric constant, and water solubihty decrease with increasing chlorine content. 

Surfactants in E/ectroc/eaners. Surfactants typically consist of a long-chain hydrocarbon molecule having a solubilising or water-loving group which can be anionic, cationic, or nonionic when solubilized. Thousands of surfactant products are marketed, usually under trade names (32). In commercially formulated electrocleaners, surfactants are usually anionic, and often mixtures of anionics and nonionics. 

For aromatic hydrocarbon molecules, in particular, the main acceptor modes are strongly anharmonic C-H vibrations which pick up the main part of the electronic energy in ST conversion. Inactive modes are stretching and bending vibrations of the carbon skeleton. The value of Pf provided by these intramolecular vibrations is so large that they act practically as a continuous bath even without intermolecular vibrations. This is confirmed by the similarity of RLT rates for isolated molecules and the same molecules imbedded in crystals. 

In this model there is a quantitative difference between RLT and electron transfer stemming from the aforementioned difference in phonon spectra. RLT is the weak-coupling case S < 1, while for electron transfer in polar media the strong-coupling limit is reached, when S > 1. In particular, in the above example of ST conversion in aromatic hydrocarbon molecules S = 0.5-1.0. 

The oxidation of hydrocarbons, including hydrocarbon polymers, takes the form of a free-radical chain reaction. As a result of mechanical shearing, exposure of ultraviolet radiation, attack by metal ions such as those of copper and manganese as well as other possible mechanisms, a hydrocarbon molecule breaks down into two radicals... 

It will be seen that reactions (7.5b) and (7.5c) if they occur more than once per hydrocarbon molecule (radical) will lead to chain extension and, if on average more than twice, to cross-linking. 

Fig. 12. A, Schematic representation of parallel arrays of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon molecules in a mesophase sphere. B, a) isolated mesophasc spheres in an isotropic fluid pitch matrix b) coalescence of mesophase c) structure of semi-coke after phase inversion and solidification.

In contrast to carbon monoxide, small hydrocarbon molecules and soot that result from incomplete conversion of the hydrocarbon fuels, nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, are noxious emissions that result from the oxidizer—air. However, fuel components that contain nitrogen may also contribute, in a lesser way, to the formation of the oxides of nitrogen. 

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