Hexane

Synonyms:

n-hexane, normal hexane

Chemical formula:

CH3(CH2)4CH3 n-hexane

International name:

HEXANE

Grade:

Import, pure, CP

Appearance:

Colorless clear liquid

Hexane (n-Hexane) is a saturated linear hydrocarbon; a colorless clear fluent highly inflammable liquid with a slight smell. It is virtually non-miscible with water, very soluble in many organic solvents. Hexane chemical properties are typical for saturated hydrocarbons – it is rather inert but under certain conditions enters into oxidation reactions, halogenation, nitration, sulphochlorination. Under reforming conditions, n-hexane isomerizes as isohexanes and dehydrogenates to benzene.

Production:

n-Hexane is abundant in distilled gasoline. Isohexanes are abundant in catalytic and alkylation gasolines.

Application:

Hexane (n-Hexane) is used as follows:

• as a solvent and diluent for paints, lacquers;
• as a degreasing agent;
• when extracting vegetable oils,
• as a non-polar solvent for chemical reactions;
• as an extracting agent of vegetable oils from natural raw materials;
• as liquid in low temperature thermometers;
• 2,2-dimethylbutane and 2,3-dimethylbutane are used as additives to motor oil improving its quality.