Tetradecane

Chemical properties

colourless liquid

Chemical properties

Tetradecane, C14H30, is a colorless liquid with moderate explosive potential and specific gravity 0.763. It occurs naturally in crude oil and in chickpea seeds, nectarines, and kiwi-fruit flowers. It may be released to the environment during its production and use, in the exhaust of motor vehicles, and in the effluent of landfills and industrial processes.

The Uses of Tetradecane

Tetradecane, often as a mixture with other straight-chain alkanes, is used as building block for detergents and animal feeds, and as a solvent and distillation chaser.

The Uses of Tetradecane

Organic synthesis, solvent standardized hydrocarbon, distillation chaser.

The Uses of Tetradecane

Tetradecane is a biomarker in dog hair for visceral leishmaniasis.

Production Methods

Tetradecane is isolated from kerosene and gas oil fractions of crude oil by selective adsorption followed by fractional distillation.

Definition

ChEBI: Tetradecane is a straight chain alkane consisting of 14 carbon atoms. It has a role as a plant metabolite and a volatile oil component.

General Description

Colorless liquid. Must be preheated before ignition can occur.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as Tetradecane, may be incompatible with strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid. Charring of the hydrocarbon may occur followed by ignition of unreacted hydrocarbon and other nearby combustibles. In other settings, aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons are mostly unreactive. They are not affected by aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, most oxidizing agents, and most reducing agents. When heated sufficiently or when ignited in the presence of air, oxygen or strong oxidizing agents, they burn exothermically to produce carbon dioxide and water.

Hazard

A fire hazard. Lower flammable limit in air 0.5%.

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Explosion hazard: Moderate, in the form of vapor when exposed.

Carcinogenicity

Tetradecane is a cocarcinogen and tumor promoter in two-stage experiments of benzo[a]pyrene carcinogenicity in mice.

Purification Methods

Wash it successively with 4M H2SO4 and water. Dry it over MgSO4 and distil it several times under reduced pressure [Po. et al. J Am Chem Soc 108 5459 1986]. It is used as a standard in gas chromatography. [Beilstein 1 H 171, 1 IV 520.]