544-76-3

Colorless liquid.

Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as N-HEXADECANE(544-76-3), may be incompatible with strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid. Charring of the hydrocarbon may occur followed by ignition of unreacted hydrocarbon and other nearby combustibles. In other settings, aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons are mostly unreactive. They are not affected by aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, most oxidizing agents, and most reducing agents. When heated sufficiently or when ignited in the presence of air, oxygen or strong oxidizing agents, they burn exothermically to produce carbon dioxide and water.

Flammable. Insoluble in water.

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Flammable.

Combustible.

Hexadecane (also known as n-hexadecane) can be used as a phase-change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage. PCM-16 macromolecular capsules prepared from hexadecane hold potential for application in thermal packaging, construction and protective clothing. Their basic physical properties are as follows^[1]:

colourless liquid

Hexadecane is a component of gasoline, and is used as a solvent, organic intermediate, ignition standard for diesel fuels, and as stock for hydrocracking processes.

ChEBI: Hexadecane is a straight-chain alkane with 16 carbon atoms. It is a component of essential oil isolated from long pepper. It has a role as a plant metabolite, a volatile oil component and a non-polar solvent.

Pass cetane through a column of silica gel and distil it under vacuum in a column packed with Pyrex helices. Store it over silica gel. It also crystallises from acetone, or fractionally crystallise it by partial freezing. [Beilstein 1 IV 537.]

[1] Adam K Puszkarz, Waldemar M., Emilia Śmiechowicz. (2025). Thermal Performance Evaluation of Encapsulated Phase Change Materials Exposed to Contact Heat and Radiant Heat. Materials, 18 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184271