C17H38

C17H38 is the molecular formula for heptadecane, an alkane. Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons, meaning they consist solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms joined by single bonds. Heptadecane is a straight-chain alkane with seventeen carbon atoms and thirty-eight hydrogen atoms. It is a waxy solid at room temperature and has a relatively high boiling point due to its molecular size and the strength of intermolecular Van der Waals forces.

Like other alkanes, heptadecane is largely unreactive and is a nonpolar molecule. This nonpolarity means it is insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as hexane or diethyl ether. Heptadecane can be found in various natural sources, including petroleum and some plant waxes. It is not typically a primary component of fuels but can be present in small amounts in diesel and jet fuels.

The primary uses of heptadecane are as a solvent, as a component in some waxes and lubricants, and in laboratory research. It can also be used as a standard in gas chromatography and as a reference compound in spectroscopy. While not as common as shorter-chain alkanes, heptadecane plays a role in the broader chemistry and applications of saturated hydrocarbons.