ClimateJuly 8, 2026
hydrocarbon
/ˌhaɪdroʊˈkɑːrbən/
Definition
An organic chemical compound composed exclusively of hydrogen and carbon atoms, which serves as the primary component of fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas.
Etymology
The word is a 19th-century scientific combination of 'hydro-' from the Greek 'hydor' (water/hydrogen) and 'carbon' from the Latin 'carbo' (coal). It was coined to categorize organic compounds made solely of these two elements.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe specific types of taxes, such as the excise duty on fuel, which governments have adjusted or suspended to manage rising energy costs.
Dozens of countries have lowered energy taxes or taken other policy steps in response to Iran war
Read the full article ↗Pew Research Center