What is Hexane?     Â
This article deals with the hexane formula. Hexane refers to an alkane of six carbon atoms. Experts make use of hexane to extract oils that people use on an everyday basis from various vegetables and their seeds. Hexane is a type of hydrocarbon and it consists of six atoms of carbon and fourteen hydrogen atoms. Hexane is an alkane because it is a compound that ends in ‘-ane’. Moreover, experts commonly refer to it as n-hexane.
Hexanes happen to be significant constituents of gasoline. They are liquids that are colorless in nature. Furthermore, they tend to be odorless when they are pure. Moreover, they serve as excellent non-polar solvents that are relatively safe, largely unreactive, cheap, and easily-evaporated.
Derivation of Hexane Formula
Hexane contains six carbon atoms and is a simple compound. Furthermore, it is a straight-chained alkane. The general formula of hexane is \(C_{n}H_{2n+2}\) to account for terminal hydrogens. So, the molecular formula of hexane happens to be \(C_{6}H_{14}\). Furthermore, each carbon atom in hexane is single bonded to a hydrogen atom.
Properties of Hexane
Hexane is a liquid that is clear colorless. Furthermore, hexane is less dense than water and happens to be insoluble in water. Moreover, the vapors of this compound are heavier than air. One can make use of hexane as a paint thinner, solvent, and chemical reaction medium. Hexane is a very volatile liquid. It has a gasoline-like odor.
The boiling point of hexane is at a temperature of 68.7 °C. Moreover, the melting point of hexane occurs at a temperature of -95.3 °C. Furthermore, the flashpoint of hexane happens at a temperature of -22 °C c.c.. The solubility of hexane in water is 9.5 mg/L at a temperature of 25 °C. The compound happens to be very soluble in ethanol. Also, hexane is soluble in chloroform and ethyl ether. The density of this compound is 0.6606 g/cu cm at 25 °C. The relative vapor density of hexane is (air = 1) 3.0. 153 mm Hg at a temperature of 25 °C is the vapor pressure of hexane.
The octanol/water partition coefficient of hexane is 3.9 (LogP). Furthermore, 225 °C is the autoignition temperature of hexane. On the application of heat, hexane can decompose to emit fumes and acid smoke. The viscosity of this compound is 3.26X10-4 Pa-s at 20 °C. The heat of combustion o hexane is 4163.2 kJ/mol. Also, the heat of vaporization of hexane is 31.56 kJ/mol at 25 °C.
Uses of hexane
In industry, the use of hexanes takes place in the formulation of glues for roofing, shoes, and leather products. They also help in extracting cooking oils (such as soya oil or canola oil) from seeds. Moreover, hexane helps in degreasing and cleaning a variety of items. Furthermore, it plays an important role in textile manufacturing.
Typical laboratory use of hexanes is regarding the extraction of oil and greasing contaminants from water and soil for the purpose of analysis. Deprotonation of hexane does not happen easily, so hexane is used for reactions that involve a very strong basis, like the preparation of organolithiums.
Hexanes have a usage in chromatography as a non-polar solvent. Higher alkanes present in hexanes as impurities have retention times similar to the solvent. This means that these impurities will be present in fractions that contain hexane. In preparative chromatography, the large volume hexane concentration can give rise to a sample that is appreciably contaminated by alkanes.
Solved Question For You
Question-Â What is hexane and its formula?
Answer- Hexane refers to an alkane of six carbon atoms that is a type of hydrocarbon and a non-polar solvent. Furthermore, the molecular formula of hexane happens to be \(C_{6}H_{14}\).
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