Hexadecane

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Hexadecane
General
Molecular formula C16H34
CAS number 544-76-3
EC number 208-878-9
Molecular Mass 226.44 g/mol
Physical characteristics
Appearance Colourless liquid
Melting point 18 °C
Boiling point 287 °C
Vapour density 7.8
Vapour pressure 1 mm Hg at 105° Celsius
Specific gravity 0.773
Flash point 135 °C
Explosion limits -
Autoignition temperature 201 °C

Hexadecane (also called cetane) is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)14CH3. 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 combustibility 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.

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Alkanes

Methane
CH4

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Ethane
C2H6

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Propane
C3H8

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Butane
C4H10

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Pentane
C5H12

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Hexane
C6H14

Heptane
C7H16

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Octane
C8H18

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Nonane
C9H20

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Decane
C10H22

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Undecane
C11H24

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Dodecane
C12H26