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Eicosane

| NFPA-F = 1 | NFPA-H = 0 | NFPA-R = 0 Eicosane (alternative spellings icosane and eichosane) is an alkane with the chemical formula C20H42. It has 366,319 constitutional isomers.{{Cite web | access-date= 2025-06-24}}

n-Eicosane (the straight-chain structural isomer of eicosane) is the shortest compound found in paraffin waxes, used to form candles. It can be isolated from agave attenuate leaves. It is also found in Vanilla madagascariensis and Gymnodinium nagasakiense.

Eicosane's size, state and chemical inactivity do not exclude it from the traits of its smaller alkane counterparts. It is a colorless or white, non-polar molecule, nearly unreactive except when it burns. It is less dense than and insoluble in water. Its non-polar trait means it can only perform weak intermolecular bonding (hydrophobic/van der Waals forces).

Eicosane's phase transition at a moderate temperature makes it a candidate phase change material, or PCM, which can be used to store thermal energy and control temperature.

It can be detected in the body odor of persons suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Naming

It is derived from ἐίκοσι (eikosi), Greek for 20 (cf. icosahedron).

IUPAC currently recommends icosane, whereas Chemical Abstracts Service and Beilstein use eicosane.

References

References

  1. [[International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry]]. (2014). "Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013". [[Royal Society of Chemistry.
  2. (1983). "Handbook of physical properties of liquids and gases: pure substances and mixtures". Hemisphere Pub. Corp.
  3. [https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Eicosane Eicosane Pubchem]
  4. (2019). "Discovery of Volatile Biomarkers of Parkinson's Disease from Sebum". ACS Central Science.
  5. "Table 11 Basic numerical terms (multiplying affixes)". [[IUPAC]].
  6. "Footnote for Table 11". [[IUPAC]].
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