Fluoranthene

Fluoranthene
Names
IUPAC name
Fluoranthene
Other names
Benzo(j, k)fluorene
Identifiers
206-44-0 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:33083 Yes
ChEMBL ChEMBL355014 Yes
ChemSpider 8800 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
KEGG C19425 
UNII 360UOL779Z Yes
Properties
C16H10
Molar mass 202.26 g/mol
Appearance Yellow to green needles
Density 1.252 g/cm3 (0 °C), solid
Melting point 110.8 °C (231.4 °F; 383.9 K)
Boiling point 375 °C (707 °F; 648 K)
265 μg/l (25 °C)
Viscosity 0.652 cP at 20 °C
Structure
Molecular shape Planar
Dipole moment 0.34 D
Hazards
Flash point 210 °C (410 °F; 483 K)
? °C
Related compounds
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Fluoranthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of a naphthalene and a benzene unit connected by a five-membered ring. It is a member of the class of PAHs known as non-alternant PAHs because it has rings other than those with six carbon atoms. It is a structural isomer of the alternant PAH pyrene. It is not as thermodynamically stable as pyrene because its electrons cannot resonate throughout the complete structure like the corresponding ones in pyrene.

Fluoranthene is found in many combustion products, along with other PAHs. Its presence is an indicator of less efficient or lower-temperature combustion, since non-alternant PAHs are less preferred in formation than alternant PAHs. Fluoranthene is one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 16 priority pollutant PAHs. Fluoranthene has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a group 3 carcinogen, "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans"[1] , however it was found to possess carcinogenic properties in case of newborn mice according to short-term lung tumor assay (Busby et al., 1984).[1]

Fluoranthene has been isolated from coal tar pitch. Its name is derived from its fluorescence under UV light.

In February 2014, NASA announced a greatly upgraded database for tracking polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including Fluoranthene, in the universe. According to scientists, more than 20% of the carbon in the universe may be associated with PAHs, possible starting materials for the formation of life. PAHs seem to have been formed shortly after the Big Bang, are widespread throughout the universe, and are associated with new stars and exoplanets.[2]

References

  1. ↑ http://cira.ornl.gov/documents/FLUORANT.pdf
  2. ↑ Hoover, Rachel (February 21, 2014). "Need to Track Organic Nano-Particles Across the Universe? NASA's Got an App for That". NASA. Retrieved February 22, 2014.