2901 - Acyclic hydrocarbons:

This HTS category, 2901, encompasses acyclic hydrocarbons. These are organic compounds consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, arranged in open chains rather than rings. This group includes a wide array of basic organic building blocks that are fundamental to the petrochemical industry and the synthesis of many other chemical products. Examples range from simple alkanes like methane and ethane to more complex chain structures.

Distinguishing 2901 from its siblings at the HTS database root level is crucial for accurate classification. While siblings in Chapter 01 deal with live animals, and other high-level categories might cover minerals, textiles, or machinery, 2901 is firmly placed within Section VI, Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries, specifically in Chapter 29, which is dedicated to organic chemicals. Therefore, goods classified here are chemical substances, not live organisms or manufactured articles.

Within the broader category of acyclic hydrocarbons, 2901 is further subdivided based on the presence and type of unsaturation. The subcategory 'Saturated' refers to hydrocarbons where all carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds (alkanes), meaning they contain the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms for their carbon skeleton. Conversely, 'Unsaturated' hydrocarbons contain at least one carbon-carbon double or triple bond (alkenes and alkynes, respectively), which makes them more reactive and capable of undergoing addition reactions. This distinction is a primary classification criterion.