Chemistry is one of the difficult subjects taught in schools. Its complexity lies in the fact that few people use chemical terminology in everyday life. Many do not even have a clue how to obtain or what a substance consists of.
In fact, chemistry is a very interesting and fascinating subject. Thanks to the knowledge gained in the lesson, you can experiment and get interesting substances.
This article will consider what octane is, a structural formula, the preparation of a substance, and its properties.
Octane hydrocarbon compound
Octanes are part of the alkane class, forming a homologous series. They consist of hydrogen and carbon atoms, are saturated hydrocarbons.
The homologous series of alkanes begins with methane (contains one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms), then comes ethane (2 carbon, 5 hydrogen), propane (3 and 8), butane (4 and 10), pentane (5 and 12), hexane (6 and 14), heptane (7 and 16), octane (8 and 18) and so on. From this it can be understood that octane consists of eight carbon atoms and 18 hydrogen atoms.
The structural formula of octane is C8H18. This substance is in the form of a liquid without color, which has a peculiar smell. Get it from oil and gasoline. At a temperature of 56.8 ° C, the substance melts, and at 125.67 ° C it boils.
Octane is used as fuel for automobiles, aircraft.
Alkanes with carbon atoms of more than three have certain isomers. Consider which isomers have octanes.
Structural formulas of octane isomers
Isomers are substances that have the same composition as the alkane itself. The amount of carbon and hydrogen is the same, but different in structure and properties. The octane has 18 isomers.
Each of them has eight carbon atoms and eighteen hydrogen atoms. These include:
- methyl heptanes;
- ethylhexane;
- dimethylhexanes;
- methyl 3-ethyl pentanes;
- trimethylpentanes;
- tetramethylbutane.
The structural isomer of octane is isooctane. It is a colorless liquid that smells of gasoline. It does not dissolve in water. It is used as an additive to gasoline, increasing its antiknock properties.