C24

C24 is an alphanumeric designation used in multiple domains to refer to different items, concepts, or specifications. The meaning of C24 depends on the context, and there is no single universal definition.

In chemistry, C24 commonly denotes a hydrocarbon with twenty-four carbon atoms. The straight-chain alkane with this formula is tetracosane (C24H50). Tetracosane is part of the larger alkane family and exists as a solid at room temperature with a relatively high melting point for its size. It occurs in fossil fuels and can be used in laboratory research to study the properties of long-chain hydrocarbons, solubility, and, in some cases, as a reference material in chromatography.

Beyond chemistry, C24 appears in product naming, model numbers, and designation systems. In military aviation and other transport-oriented designation schemes, the prefix C- indicates cargo or transport roles, and C-24 has historically been assigned to more than one airframe depending on era and operator. In consumer electronics and information technology, C24 can be seen as a model string or as shorthand for 24-bit color in contexts that describe color depth, though this usage is not standardized and varies by device maker.

Because the same code is used across disparate areas, C24 requires contextual delimiters such as field, organization, or year to convey precise meaning. The term thus illustrates how short alphanumeric identifiers serve as markers within specialized domains but can be ambiguous without specification.