Hydrocarbons Organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen

Branched hydrocarbons organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen in... 

Methane, the simplest of all organic compounds, contains one carbon atom. Methane—the main component of natural gas—occurs widely in nature. Like other hydrocarbons—organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen— methane is combustible that is, it burns in the presence of oxygen. Methane is the product of the anaerobic (without air) decomposition of organic matter by bacteria. The natural gas we use today was formed by the decomposition of organic material millions of years ago. Hydrocarbons. such as methane are discussed in Chapter 4. 

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