Dodecane (also known as dihexyl, bihexyl, adakane 12, or duodecane) is an oily liquid ''n''-
alkane
In organic chemistry, an alkane, or paraffin (a historical trivial name that also has other meanings), is an acyclic saturated hydrocarbon. In other words, an alkane consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms arranged in a tree structure in whi ...
hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and Hydrophobe, hydrophobic; their odor is usually fain ...
with the chemical formula C
12H
26 (which has 355
isomer
In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formula – that is, the same number of atoms of each element (chemistry), element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. ''Isomerism'' refers to the exi ...
s).
It is used as a
solvent
A solvent (from the Latin language, Latin ''wikt:solvo#Latin, solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a Solution (chemistry), solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas ...
,
distillation
Distillation, also classical distillation, is the process of separating the component substances of a liquid mixture of two or more chemically discrete substances; the separation process is realized by way of the selective boiling of the mixt ...
chaser, and
scintillator component. It is used as a diluent for
tributyl phosphate (TBP) in nuclear reprocessing plants.
Combustion reaction
The combustion reaction of dodecane is as follows:
:C
12H
26(''l'') + 18.5 O
2(''g'') → 12 CO
2(''g'') + 13 H
2O(''g'')
:
Δ''H''° = −7513
kJ
One litre of fuel needs about 15 kg of
air
An atmosphere () is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A stellar atmosph ...
to burn (2.6 kg of oxygen), and generates 2.3 kg (or 1.2 m
3) of CO
2 upon complete combustion.
Jet fuel surrogate
In recent years, ''n''-dodecane has garnered attention as a possible
surrogate for kerosene-based fuels such as Jet-A, S-8, and other conventional aviation fuels. It is considered a second-generation fuel surrogate designed to emulate the
laminar flame speed, largely supplanting ''n''-decane, primarily due to its higher molecular mass and lower hydrogen-to-carbon ratio which better reflect the ''n''-alkane content of
jet fuel
Jet fuel or aviation turbine fuel (ATF, also abbreviated avtur) is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by Gas turbine, gas-turbine engines. It is colorless to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for ...
s.
See also
*
Higher alkanes 320px
Higher alkanes are alkanes with a high number of carbon atoms. It is common jargon. One definition says higher alkanes are alkanes having nine or more carbon atoms. Thus, according to this definition, nonane is the lightest higher alkane ...
*
Kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
*
List of isomers of dodecane
References
External links
*
Material Safety Data Sheet for DodecaneDodecane
Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
{{Authority control
Alkanes
Hydrocarbon solvents