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heptane
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microgravity: combustion
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heptane

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microgravity: combustion
microgravity: combustion A 3-mm-wide drop of heptane fuel burning in microgravity. The image is a composite of grayscale video stills that have been coloured to show the movement of soot away from the burning droplet (bright yellow, middle).

Heptane refers to any of several isomeric alkanes with the chemical formula C7H16. Alkanes are hydrocarbons where all bonds are single, following the general formula CnH2n + 2. Heptane, specifically the normal isomer, is a liquid found in petroleum and is used as a solvent and in determining octane numbers.12

There are nine different constitutional isomers for heptane, meaning nine distinct compounds share the molecular formula C7H16. These isomers can have different physical properties, such as boiling points. For instance, unbranched heptane boils at 98.4 °C. Like other hydrocarbons, heptane is insoluble in water and floats on its surface.2

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. heptane
  2. hydrocarbon - Physical properties
  3. hydrocarbon - Nomenclature
  4. heptadecane

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