Jevonsin

Jevonsin is a fictional chemical compound commonly used in educational contexts and in science fiction to illustrate principles of chemistry and materials science. Named in homage to the economist William Stanley Jevons, the compound is described across works as a colorless, volatile liquid with a moderate boiling point and distinctive odor. While there is no real-world Jevonsin, the various depictions share a tendency to present it as a compact, easily handled reagent or solvent.

Properties commonly attributed to Jevonsin in these texts include being a liquid at room temperature, with a molecular weight around 110 g/mol. It is often described as soluble in common organic solvents such as ethanol and diethyl ether, but only sparingly soluble in water. Descriptions vary on its exact structure; some portray it as an oxygenated hydrocarbon containing one ether and one carbonyl group, while others treat it as a small ester or similar functionality. The reported refractive index and density also vary between sources, reflecting its status as a notional compound rather than a defined chemical.

Synthesis and occurrence in the fictional literature typically place Jevonsin as a laboratory product derived from simple precursors under catalytic conditions, or as a purified intermediate used in teaching demonstrations. In classroom discussions, it serves as a convenient model for exploring reaction kinetics, solvent effects, and Le Chatelier’s principle, as well as for illustrating how changing temperature, pressure, or solvent environment can influence equilibrium and rate relationships.

Because Jevonsin is a fictional construct, citations and practical applications exist only within the works that reference it. It functions primarily as a pedagogical and narrative device.