Docosane

Docosane, also known as n-docosane, is a straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula C22H46. It is a saturated hydrocarbon and a member of the paraffin family, lying among the higher carbon-number alkanes.

In terms of structure, docosane consists of a linear chain of 22 carbon atoms with two terminal hydrogens, giving it no branching or functional groups. It is a nonpolar, hydrophobic compound and is immiscible with water. It is generally a solid at room temperature, with a melting point higher than many shorter alkanes, reflecting the trend of increasing melting points with increasing chain length. Like other alkanes, it is relatively chemically inert under ordinary conditions.

Occurrence and production: docosane occurs naturally as part of crude oil and various natural waxes as a trace or component within larger hydrocarbon mixtures. It can be isolated from petroleum fractions or waxes through standard hydrocarbon separation techniques and is often cited as a representative long-chain alkane in analytical and industrial contexts.

Applications and safety: docosane is used as a model compound in analytical chemistry and materials science, including studies of phase behavior, rheology, and chromatographic calibration, and as a component in paraffin wax mixtures. It has low acute toxicity in standard tests, but like other hydrocarbons, it is flammable and should be handled with appropriate safety precautions to avoid inhalation and ignition risks.