Eicosane

Eicosane is a straight-chain alkane with the molecular formula C₂₀H₄₂. Its twenty-carbon chain makes it a solid near room temperature.

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Alkane: A hydrocarbon containing only single bonds between carbon atoms. Eicosane belongs to this saturated-hydrocarbon family.
London dispersion force: An intermolecular attraction caused by temporary fluctuations in electron distributions. These attractions between eicosane molecules grow with its large electron cloud.
Nonadecane: A straight-chain alkane with nineteen carbon atoms and formula C₁₉H₄₀. Removing one CH₂ unit gives the neighboring lower alkane.
Phase-change material: A material that absorbs or releases substantial heat while changing physical phase. Eicosane is studied as an organic phase-change material for heat storage.
Alkane nomenclature: The systematic rules for naming saturated, acyclic hydrocarbons. The prefix eicos- identifies a chain of twenty carbon atoms.
Melting point: The temperature at which a solid changes into a liquid at a specified pressure. Eicosane melts near 37 °C, close to ordinary room temperature.
Heneicosane: A straight-chain alkane with twenty-one carbon atoms and formula C₂₁H₄₄. Adding one CH₂ unit gives the neighboring higher alkane.
Latent heat: Energy absorbed or released during a phase change without a temperature change. Eicosane stores heat as it melts and releases it as it solidifies.
Molecular formula: A notation that gives the number of each type of atom in a molecule. C₂₀H₄₂ states eicosane’s exact carbon and hydrogen counts.
Boiling point: The temperature at which a liquid’s vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure. Its long carbon chain gives eicosane a high boiling point, about 343 °C.