Atom Scramble! Edition 1: Meet the hydrocarbons(and some oxygen too)!

Atoms are super stunning. They are unimaginable small, but they have a whole universe of their own. Atoms compose everything, but most things aren’t atoms alone. You see, atoms enjoy bonding together. You know H2O? Slang for water? But it’s not just slang. It is the atomic composition of water. Two hydrogen, and one oxygen. You know salt? Its made up of a chlorine, and a sodium. So how many atoms are there? 118. So, why aren’t crazy creations everywhere. You see, most molecules are relatively simple. In fact, I’d like you to meet some of the simplest: hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen.

Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen love bonding with each other. There are over 100,000 named particles that are made out of carbon and hydrogen. They are called the hydrocarbons. Add oxygen and you get carbohydrates. Think about the molecules you’ve heard about. CO2 and H2O. They are composed of C’s, H’s and O’s.(Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen). So, how do these atoms come together in the first place. Well, you’ve probably heard of electrons. Basically this happens:

Oxygen: I need two electrons.

Hydrogen: I’ll share my electron, if you share one of yours!

Hydrogen 2: Me too!

Oxygen: Sure!

And they form H2O(Sorry, the atoms don’t actually talk).

So, what molecules do these atoms form? Well, carbon and hydrogen can form lots of different compounds(an molecule with more than one atom.):

from(https://www.google.com/search?q=hydrocarbons&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS709US716&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=631&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjyn5negN7RAhVC3GMKHcfEC_QQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=Hs15ZroF6wE3rM%3A)

The simplest of all hydrocarbons is methane. Methane consists of a carbon, and four hydrogens, all H bonded(sharing only one electron), CH4. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas. Next is Ethane, C2H6. Then propane, C3H8. And then Butane,  C4H10. And they continue for a long while. One hydrocarbon I particularly like is hexane, C6H14, a liquid that has similar properties as water.

When you add oxygen, getting carbohydrates, it is often in the for of a -OH. A negatively charged oxygen and hydrogen, which have lost their other hydrogen. When a hydrocarbon has oxygen in the form of -OH, it is considered an alcohol. Yep, wine, beer and other drinks you can’t consume until you are 21, have at least one -OH. A good example is methanol, methane, but one hydrogen is replaced with -OH. Methanol’s chemical composition is COH5, or CH4 + -OH. Of course, as you may predict, there is ethanol after methanol, etc. And that, is the fundamentals of carbohydrates, and hydrocarbons. But how do these atoms tie into everyday life. How do other atoms, such a sulfur help us? We can find out… in edition 2! See you there ;-)!