cyclopentane

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Cyclopentane is a liquid saturated cyclic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C₅H₁₀. It is found in petroleum and is also known as pentamethylene. Cyclopentane is a carbocyclic compound, meaning its molecules are built from a framework of carbon atoms linked together in a ring.12

In this structure, each corner of a simplified polygonal representation signifies a carbon atom, with hydrogen atoms understood to be attached as needed. Cyclopentane serves as a basis for understanding heterocyclic compounds, where one or more carbon atoms in the ring are replaced by a heteroatom, such as nitrogen.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

heterocyclic compound
Comparison with carbocyclic compounds
A typical carbocyclic compound is cyclopentane (C₅H₁₀), the molecular structure of which is indicated by the formulain which the chemical symbols represent atoms of the elements and the lines represent bonds (see covalent bond) between the atoms. For convenience such
Read More
A typical carbocyclic compound is cyclopentane (C₅H₁₀), the molecular structure of which is indicated by the formulain which the chemical symbols represent atoms of the elements and the lines represent bonds (see covalent bond) between the atoms. For convenience such
Read More