The main constituents of fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) are hydrocarbons. When hydrocarbons are burnt in air the reaction is called combustion. It is highly exothermic reaction, i.e. it produces a lot of heat. The basic combustion reaction is
The heat energy thus produced is used to meet needs of energy in homes, transportation, as well as in industries.
Hydrocarbons as Feed Stock in Industry
Hydrocarbons are not only used as fuel in automobiles or industries, they also act as raw materials in many industries.
(i) Petrochemical Industry:
The organic compounds prepared from hydrocarbons (petroleum and natural gas) are called petrochemicals. Some of the important petrochemicals are, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, formic acid, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, etc.