| Centane (Hexadecane) |
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Physical Properties
Color - Colorless
Odor - Gasoline Like to Odorless
Molecular Weight - \(226.448g/mol\)
Melting Point - \(64.4F^\circ (17.9C^\circ)\)
Boiling Point - \(548.4 F^\circ (286.9C^\circ)\)
Flash Point - \(205 F^\circ (96C^\circ)\)
Autoignition Temp. - \(396 F^\circ (202C^\circ)\)
LFL - \(1.5\)%
UFL -
PEL -
Density - \(0.0279lbm/in^3@68F^\circ (0.773g/cc@20C^\circ)\)
Viscosity - \(3.176cP@68F^\circ (3.176cP@20C^\circ)\)
Heat of Vaporization - \(93.31BTU/lb (226.2J/g)\)
Specific Heat Capacity - \(0.3922BTU/lbF^\circ@77F^\circ (1.641J/gC^\circ@25C^\circ)\)
Thermal Conductivity - \(0.9772BTUin/hrft^2F^\circ@68F^\circ (0.1408W/mKC@20C^\circ)\)
Solubility - Insoluble in water
Chemical Properties
Chemical Formula - \(C_{16}H_{34}\)
State of Matter - Liquid
Flammability - Highly
Critical Pressure - \(10600torr (14.2bar)\)
Critical Temperature - \(831 F^\circ (444.9C^\circ)\)
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Cetane, chemically known as n-hexadecane, is a colorless, straight-chain hydrocarbon with the chemical formula \(C_{16}H_{34}\). Its primary significance lies in its role as the benchmark for measuring the ignition quality of diesel fuel. Unlike gasoline, which relies on spark ignition and is rated by its octane number (resistance to pre-ignition), diesel engines depend on compression ignition. This means that when air is highly compressed within the engine cylinders, its temperature rises sufficiently to ignite the injected diesel fuel. Cetane, with its assigned cetane number of 100, is ideal for this process because it ignites very readily and with a minimal delay under compression. A higher cetane number in diesel fuel indicates a shorter ignition delay, leading to a smoother, quieter, and more efficient combustion process, which translates to easier cold starts, better fuel economy, and reduced emissions.
