Insoluble in water. They are nonpolar and water is very polar. They dissolve in nonpolar solvents such as CCl 4 . Some of the gases are anesthetics. Can cause asphyxiation by excluding O 2 .
Liquids dissolve body oils on the skin.
Heavier liquids and semisolids act as skin emollients, ie. Cyclic Hydrocarbons-hydrocarbon chains with the ends connected. Called cycloalkanes if only single bonds. These compounds are usually represented by a geometric shape, the number of sides corresponding to the number of C atoms in the compound. See page 969.