C10H20O

C10H20O is the molecular formula for a family of organic compounds that contain ten carbon atoms, twenty hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. In typical cases the oxygen is part of a carbonyl group, so the formula describes either aldehydes or ketones with ten carbons (and no additional rings or multiple bonds beyond the carbonyl). Consequently, there are many constitutional isomers of C10H20O, including straight-chain and branched aldehydes such as decanal, and saturated ketones such as 2-decanone, 4-decanone, and other positional or branched variants. Other isomeric forms include cyclic or highly branched structures that retain a single carbonyl group and satisfy the same elemental composition.

The exact properties depend on the specific isomer. The molecular weight is 156.27 g/mol. Physical properties such as boiling point and density vary with structure; aldehydes and ketones of this size generally have higher boiling points than their alkane counterparts due to the polar carbonyl group. Many C10H20O compounds are used as intermediates in organic synthesis; some serve as flavors or fragrances in the perfume and flavor industries, while others function as solvents or industrial reagents.

Because multiple distinct compounds share this formula, spectroscopic methods and structural characterization are required to identify a specific C10H20O isomer.