Meaning & use
hydrocarbon
An organic compound made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, such as those found in fuels.
See it in a sentence
Gasoline is a mixture of hydrocarbons refined from crude oil.
Burning hydrocarbons releases carbon dioxide and water vapor into the air.
A note on using this word
Hydrocarbons are classified as saturated or unsaturated depending on the bonds between their carbon atoms.
Words with a similar meaning
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