Importance of Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds formed, as their name indicates, by carbon and hydrogen. There may be several variants of them, as they may also exist in various states (solid, liquid or gas). These types of compounds were formed millions of years ago from the remains of different organisms; time and environmental conditions, conditions in which the oxygen, were forming these elements that today are used to generate energy. This basic utility the existing possibility in hydrocarbons used as fuel, is what makes them extremely useful for human activities.

The hydrocarbons Nowadays they are fundamental for the maintenance of the economy. This dependency has developed throughout the 20th century and remains fully valid in the 21st century. It is to be expected that with the passage of time new forms of energy production will begin to be implemented. Although these already exist, the truth is that they have not yet had the desired penetration. This circumstance, however, will arrive inexorably in the future, especially when there is a decline in the production of

hydrocarbons and their price is excessively high. Meanwhile, today there are enough reserves for the next few years.

It is impossible to refer to the hydrocarbons in this sense, without referring to the Petroleum. Certainly, the price of this element can make a significant difference within the economy of the countries. Thus, it is possible to record different changes in the world economy from different changes in the availability of oil. Nowadays, thanks to the technical improvements in its extraction, improvements that have made it possible to extract it from solid rocks, there is a great offer in the market, a circumstance that has contributed to controlling its price.

The downside of using hydrocarbons without a doubt it is the pollution that they can generate. This contamination is experienced especially in the carbon dioxide that it expels into the atmosphere. In this sense, reference can also be made to the problems generated by their dumping in rivers and oceans accidentally, a situation that significantly affects animal and plant life. However, these negative effects are more than acceptable if, on the other hand, we observe the positive effects, effects that have made possible a great development of the economy and of western societies, a development that still keep going.