Heptane facts for kids

Heptane is an organic compound that has the chemical formula C₇H₁₆. It is a type of alkane, which means it's a simple hydrocarbon made of only carbon and hydrogen atoms, with seven carbon atoms linked together. Heptane is a clear, colorless liquid that smells a bit like petrol. It is often found in fuels, including gasoline.

What is Heptane?

Heptane is a straight-chain alkane, meaning its carbon atoms are connected in a single line without branches. It is a very simple molecule. Because it is a hydrocarbon, it is made only of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Properties of Heptane

Heptane is a liquid at room temperature. It has a density of about 0.68 grams per cubic centimeter, which means it is lighter than water. This is why it floats on water.

Heptane freezes at a very cold temperature, around -90.5 degrees Celsius (-131 degrees Fahrenheit). It boils at about 98.4 degrees Celsius (209 degrees Fahrenheit). This is just below the boiling point of water.

Heptane does not mix well with water. Only a tiny amount of heptane will dissolve in water.

How Heptane is Used

Heptane is an important part of gasoline. It is used as a standard to measure the quality of gasoline. This quality is called the octane rating.

• Octane Rating: The octane rating tells you how well a fuel burns in an engine without causing "knocking" (a harmful sound).
• Zero Rating: Heptane is given an octane rating of zero. This means it causes a lot of knocking in engines.
• 100 Rating: Another chemical called isooctane (2,2,4-trimethylpentane) is given an octane rating of 100. It burns very smoothly.
• Mixtures: The octane rating of gasoline is based on how much heptane and isooctane are in a special test mixture. For example, gasoline with an 87 octane rating burns like a mix of 87% isooctane and 13% heptane.

Heptane is also used as a solvent in laboratories and industries. A solvent is a liquid that can dissolve other substances. It is good for cleaning and for some chemical reactions.

Safety Information

Heptane is a highly flammable liquid. This means it can easily catch fire. It should always be handled with care and kept away from sparks, flames, and heat.

If you breathe in too much heptane vapor, it can make you feel dizzy or sleepy. It can also irritate your skin and eyes. It is important to use heptane in well-ventilated areas to avoid breathing in too much of its fumes.

Heptane can also be harmful to the environment, especially to aquatic life, if it gets into water. It is important to dispose of it properly.

Related Chemicals

Heptane belongs to a family of chemicals called alkanes. Other common alkanes include:

• Hexane: An alkane with six carbon atoms.
• Octane: An alkane with eight carbon atoms.

These chemicals are similar to heptane but have different numbers of carbon atoms, which changes their properties slightly.

Images for kids

• 

  A simple drawing of the heptane molecule.

• 

  A more detailed drawing showing all the atoms in heptane.

• 

  A 3D model of the heptane molecule.

See also

In Spanish: Heptano para niños