Which hydrocarbon is identified as Ethane (C2H6)?

Ethane (C2H6) is primarily classified as an aliphatic compound. Aliphatic compounds are those that consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in straight chains, branched chains, or non-aromatic rings. Ethane is a straight-chain alkane with two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms, fitting the definition of an aliphatic hydrocarbon perfectly.

The classification of hydrocarbons also includes light and heavy hydrocarbons but is distinct from that of aliphatic compounds. Light hydrocarbons generally include simple molecules like methane and ethane, which are vaporizable at room temperature and have low molar mass. However, ethane specifically being an aliphatic compound is the most accurate characterization because it describes the type of carbon structure it possesses.

In contrast, heavy hydrocarbons typically refer to larger, more complex molecules with higher boiling points that often contain more carbon atoms, which does not apply to ethane. While ethane can be a component in gasoline, it is not specifically identified with gasoline components exclusively since gasoline is a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, including aliphatic, aromatic, and others.

Thus, identifying ethane as an aliphatic compound provides the clearest and most accurate classification reflecting its structural characteristics.