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Related Concept Videos

Organic Compounds03:02

Organic Compounds

All living things are formed mostly of carbon compounds called organic compounds. The category of organic compounds includes both natural and synthetic compounds that contain carbon. Although a single, precise definition has yet to be identified by the chemistry community, most agree that a defining trait of organic molecules is the presence of carbon as the principal element, bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. However, some carbon-containing compounds such as carbonates, cyanides, and...
Structure of Alkanes02:23

Structure of Alkanes

The formation of carbon-carbon bonds leading to the creation of the carbon chain is the basis of organic chemistry. August Kekulé and Archibald Scott Couper independently developed this idea of carbon chain formation.
Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds composed of carbons and hydrogens. Based on the bond order between carbons, the hydrocarbons are further classified into alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes. 
Alkanes are the simplest hydrocarbons with sp3 hybrid carbon atoms. These sp3...
Nomenclature of Alkanes02:22

Nomenclature of Alkanes

In the late 19th-century, the number of new chemical compounds discovered increased tremendously. Hence, the necessity arose to develop a naming system for the systematic nomenclature of these newly discovered compounds. IUPAC (International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry), established in 1919, sets rules for the nomenclature.
The alkane nomenclature considers the length of the carbon chain, the number, and the location of the substituent to arrive at its systematic name. The IUPAC...
Physical Properties of Alkanes02:33

Physical Properties of Alkanes

Alkanes are nonpolar molecules due to the presence of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. The electronegativity difference between carbon and hydrogen is minimal, and hence alkanes have a zero dipole moment. This leads to the presence of only dispersion forces between the molecules. The strength of dispersion forces is dependent on the surface area of the molecules on which they act. Since the surface area increases with the molecular length for straight-chain alkanes, the dispersion forces also...
Conformations of Ethane and Propane02:18

Conformations of Ethane and Propane

In an organic molecule, free rotation about the carbon-carbon single bond results in energetically different conformers of the molecule. Due to this rotation, called the internal rotation, ethane has two major conformations — staggered and eclipsed.
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered ethane, the...
Aromatic Compounds: Overview01:25

Aromatic Compounds: Overview

In general, the term ‘aromatic’ indicates a pleasant smell or fragrance from fresh flowers, freshly prepared coffee, etc. In the early history of organic chemistry, many benzene derivatives were isolated from the pleasant odor oils of the plants. For example, vanillin was isolated from the oil of vanilla, methyl salicylate from the oil of wintergreen, and cinnamaldehyde from the oil of cinnamon. They all had a pleasant odor; hence the name aromatic was given.
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes
07:49

On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes

Published on: August 5, 2016

Squalene in petroleum asphaltenes.

N Samman, T Ignasiak, C J Chen

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |September 18, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary

    Squalene, a natural biological compound, was found in petroleum asphaltenes and their byproducts. This discovery offers new possibilities for understanding the origins and correlations of petroleum markers.

    Area of Science:

    • Organic Geochemistry
    • Petroleum Geochemistry

    Background:

    • Squalene is a common natural triterpenoid.
    • It serves as a biological precursor to key tetra- and pentacyclic triterpane biomarkers.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To report the detection of squalene in petroleum asphaltenes.
    • To explore the implications of this finding for biomarker correlations.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of petroleum asphaltenes and their pyrolysis products.
    • Identification of squalene (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene).

    Main Results:

    • Squalene was successfully detected in various petroleum asphaltenes.
    • Squalene was also identified in the pyrolysis products of these asphaltenes.

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    Experimental Study of the Relationship Between Particle Size and Methane Sorption Capacity in Shale
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    Experimental Study of the Relationship Between Particle Size and Methane Sorption Capacity in Shale

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    Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

    On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes
    07:49

    On-line Analysis of Nitrogen Containing Compounds in Complex Hydrocarbon Matrixes

    Published on: August 5, 2016

    In Situ Visualization of the Phase Behavior of Oil Samples Under Refinery Process Conditions
    11:20

    In Situ Visualization of the Phase Behavior of Oil Samples Under Refinery Process Conditions

    Published on: February 21, 2017

    Experimental Study of the Relationship Between Particle Size and Methane Sorption Capacity in Shale
    07:23

    Experimental Study of the Relationship Between Particle Size and Methane Sorption Capacity in Shale

    Published on: August 2, 2018

    Conclusions:

    • The presence of squalene in asphaltenes provides a novel biological marker.
    • This finding opens new avenues for correlating petroleum biomarkers and understanding their origins.