1. Module 5

1.31. Module Glossary

Module 5 Glossary

Module 5—Hydrocarbons and the Petroleum Industry

Module Glossary

 

alkanes: a class of hydrocarbons that contain only single bonds

 

alkyl branch: a group of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined by single bonds

 

The group is not part of the main structure of a hydrocarbon.

 

aromatics: a class of hydrocarbons in which all hydrocarbons contain benzene or a benzene-like ring

 

bioremediation: a process that uses natural mechanisms, including bacteria and fungi, to remove toxic materials from soil or water

 

cycloalkanes: a cyclic (carbon chain forms a circle) hydrocarbon in which all of the bonds between carbon atoms are single bonds

 

cracking: a process in which larger hydrocarbon molecules are converted into smaller hydrocarbon molecules

 

hydrocarbon: a compound containing only carbon and hydrogen atoms

 

petroleum: a mixture of hydrocarbons that is obtained from oil or natural gas

 

structural isomers: compounds that share the same chemical formula but have different chemical structures