Chemical Properties
colourless crystals or wax-like solid
Uses
Eicosane is a long chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon. Eicosane has a high flashpoint which makes it an inefficient fuel for use in the petrochemical industry. Eicosane is used to form candles and paraffin waxes with solar energy storage capacity.
Uses
n-Eicosane is a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, which is used to form candles and paraffin waxes with solar energy storage capacity. It is also used in cosmetics, lubricants, plasticizers and in the petrochemical industry. Further, it is useful for special surfactants and in the preparation of certain organic chemicals. In addition to this, it is used as a chromatographic analysis reference material.
Definition
ChEBI: Icosane is a straight chain alkane composed of 20 carbon atoms. It has been isolated from the leaves of Agave attenuata. It has a role as a plant metabolite.
General Description
Colorless crystals or white crystalline solid.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as N-EICOSANE, 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.
Fire Hazard
N-EICOSANE is combustible.
Purification Methods
Crystallise eicosane from EtOH. [Beilstein 1 IV 563.]
