Difference Between Hydrocarbons and Carbohydrates

Hydrocarbons vs Carbohydrates

Organic molecules are molecules that consist of carbons. Organic molecules are the most abundant molecules in living things on this planet. Main organic molecules in living things include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Nucleic acids like DNA contain genetic information of organisms. Carbon compounds like proteins make structural components of our bodies, and they make up enzymes which catalyze all the metabolic functions. Organic molecules provide us energy to carry out day to day functions.

我们不仅由有机分子组成，而且我们周围有许多类型的有机分子，我们每天将它们用于不同的目的。我们穿的衣服由天然或合成有机分子组成。我们房屋中的许多材料也是有机的。汽油为汽车和其他机器提供能量是有机的。我们服用的大多数药物，农药和杀虫剂由有机分子组成。因此，有机分子几乎与我们生活的各个方面有关。

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are organic molecules, which consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The total oxidation of hydrocarbons results in only carbon dioxide and water. Hydrocarbons are hydrophobic, and as the molecule gets larger, hydrophobicity also increases.

Hydrocarbons can be aromatic or aliphatic. They are mainly divided into few types such as alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. They also can be divided into two as saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Saturated hydrocarbons can also be referred to as alkanes. They have the highest number of hydrogen atoms that a molecule can accommodate. All the bonds between carbon atoms and hydrogens are single bonds. Because of that the bond, rotation is allowed between any atoms. They are the simplest type of hydrocarbons. Saturated hydrocarbons have the general formula of C_nH_2n+2.这些条件在环烷烃中略有不同，因为它们具有循环结构。

在不饱和烃中，碳原子之间有双键或三键。由于存在多个键，因此分子中不存在最佳氢原子数。烯烃和炔烃是不饱和碳氢化合物的例子。具有双键的非环状分子具有C的一般公式_nH_2n,and alkynes have the general formula of C_nH_2n-2.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a group of compounds which are defined as “polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones or substances that hydrolyze to yield polyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones.” Carbohydrates are the most abundant type of organic molecules on earth. They are the source of chemical energy for living organisms. Not only this, they serve as important constituents of tissues.

Carbohydrates are synthesized in plants and some micro organisms by photosynthesis. Carbohydrates got its’ name because it has the formula C_x(H₂O)_x这看起来像水合物的碳。Carbohydrate can be again categorized into three as monosaccharide, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrate type. Disaccharides and monosaccharides are readily soluble in water, and they are sweet in taste. They can be crystallized. Polysaccharides have different characteristics than other carbohydrates because they are polymers. They don’t have a sweet taste; some are partially soluble in water whereas some are insoluble. Like disaccharides, polysaccharides can be hydrolyzed.

Hydrocarbons vs Carbohydrates

• Hydrocarbons have carbon and hydrogen atoms only, whereas carbohydrates have oxygen or sometimes nitrogen atoms other than carbon and hydrogen.

• Hydrocarbons are nonpolar, and carbohydrates are polar molecules. Therefore, some carbohydrates readily dissolve in water whereas hydrocarbons are hydrophobic.