Icosane

Icosane

Structural formula of icosane

Icosane, also known as eicosane, is a saturated hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C₂₀H₄₂. It is part of the alkane series, which are hydrocarbons consisting entirely of single-bonded carbon and hydrogen atoms and lacking any functional groups.

Structure and Properties

Icosane is a straight-chain alkane, meaning it consists of a linear arrangement of carbon atoms. The molecule is composed of 20 carbon atoms and 42 hydrogen atoms, making it a relatively large and heavy hydrocarbon.

Icosane is a non-polar molecule, which means it is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It is a colorless, waxy solid at room temperature, with a melting point of approximately 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) and a boiling point of about 343 °C (649 °F).

Occurrence and Uses

Icosane is found in small quantities in petroleum and is one of the many components of paraffin wax. It is used primarily in the production of lubricants, cosmetics, and as a standard in calorimetry due to its well-defined melting point.

Chemical Reactions

As a saturated hydrocarbon, icosane is relatively unreactive. However, it can undergo typical alkane reactions such as combustion and halogenation. In combustion, icosane reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy in the form of heat and light.

Isomers

Icosane has a large number of isomers, which are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements. The number of possible isomers increases exponentially with the number of carbon atoms in the alkane. For icosane, there are 366,319 possible structural isomers.

Related Compounds

Icosane is part of the alkane series, which includes other hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, and butane. Each member of the series differs by a CH₂ unit.

Related Pages

• Alkane
• Hydrocarbon
• Paraffin wax
• Combustion