C8C14

C8C14 is an informal designation used in chemistry and the petroleum industry to refer to a hydrocarbon range that comprises aliphatic hydrocarbons with eight to fourteen carbon atoms. It is not a single compound but a blend of molecules, including octane (C8), nonane (C9), decane (C10), undecane (C11), dodecane (C12), tridecane (C13), and tetradecane (C14), in various structural isomers (linear, branched) and some cycloalkanes. The designation is commonly found on product data sheets, refinery streams, and solvent catalogs to indicate a cut with an approximate boiling-point window corresponding to these carbon numbers.

Sources and production: C8–C14 fractions are obtained during petroleum refining and processing, from distillation of crude oil or upgrading of heavier fractions through cracking or hydrocracking. The precise composition depends on crude input and refinery configuration.

Properties: Compared with shorter hydrocarbons, C8–C14 components have higher boiling points, lower volatility, and greater lubricity. The boiling range for the C8–C14 cut generally lies roughly from about 125°C up to 250°C, depending on isomer content. They are largely nonpolar, with limited water solubility, and are flammable; density around 0.7–0.8 g/mL for many constituents.

Uses: As a refinery fraction, C8–C14 components serve as components in gasoline blends, kerosene or light diesel fuels, and as nonpolar solvents in industrial applications. They are also employed in lubricant formulations and as calibration or reference fluids in analytical methods.

Safety and handling: Handle with care, use ventilation, avoid ignition sources, and follow material safety data sheets.

See also: Alkanes, Petroleum refining, Hydrocarbons.