Hexadecane

Hexadecane[1]
IUPAC name Hexadecane
Other names Cetane n-Hexadecane
Identifiers
CAS number	544-76-3 Y
PubChem	11006
ChemSpider	10540 Y
EC number	208-878-9
ChEBI	CHEBI:45296 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL134994 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
InChI InChI=1S/C16H34/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h3-16H2,1-2H3 Y Key: DCAYPVUWAIABOU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C16H34/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h3-16H2,1-2H3 Key: DCAYPVUWAIABOU-UHFFFAOYAR
Properties
Molecular formula	C16H34
Molar mass	226.44 g mol−1
Melting point	18 °C, 291 K, 64 °F
Boiling point	287 °C, 560 K, 549 °F
Solubility in water	Insoluble
Hazards
Flash point	135 °C (275 °F)
Autoignition temperature	201 °C (394 °F)
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Hexadecane (also called cetane) is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C₁₆H₃₄. Hexadecane consists of a chain of 16 carbon atoms, with three hydrogen atoms bonded to the two end carbon atoms, and two hydrogens bonded to each of the 14 other carbon atoms.

Cetane is often used as a short-hand for cetane number, a measure of the detonation of diesel fuel. Cetane ignites very easily under compression; for this reason, it is assigned a cetane number of 100, and serves as a reference for other fuel mixtures.

It has one of the lowest octane numbers, at <−30.^[2]

See also

• Cetane number
• Cetane index
• Isocetane

References

1. ^ Material safety data sheet for hexadecane
2. ^ Petroleum and Coal, Purdue University

External links

• Vapor pressure and liquid density calculation
• Technique to determine hexadecane transfer