What does decane mean?
Decane is a saturated hydrocarbon belonging to the alkane series, consisting of a straight chain of ten carbon atoms with twenty-two hydrogen atoms and bearing the chemical formula C10H22. At room temperature it is a colourless, flammable liquid that is insoluble in water but dissolves oils, fats, and other nonpolar substances readily, which makes it useful as a solvent. In the petroleum industry it appears as a constituent of kerosene, diesel, and jet fuels, and it is also studied in combustion and fuel research. The name follows standard chemical nomenclature, combining the Greek element for 'ten' with the '-ane' ending reserved for alkanes. Because it is longer-chained than familiar compounds like octane, decane has a correspondingly higher boiling point, around 174 degrees Celsius. The word is almost exclusively technical, encountered in chemistry textbooks, laboratory settings, and scientific writing rather than general conversation.
nounA colourless liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, having ten carbon atoms and the chemical formula C10H22, used chiefly as a solvent and in fuel research.
- A straight-chain alkane hydrocarbon with ten carbon atoms and the formula C10H22, a colourless flammable liquid used as a solvent and in fuel research.
"The laboratory stored the sample of decane in a sealed glass vial to prevent evaporation."
"Decane boils at a higher temperature than octane because its longer chain produces stronger intermolecular forces."
"The chemist used decane as a nonpolar solvent to dissolve the waxy residue."
Rarely pluralised except when referring collectively to the different isomers of decane.
"The various decanes differ only in how their carbon chains branch."
Decane is literally 'ten-ness' in chemistry's naming scheme — one carbon for each finger on your hands.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of decane
The word decane was formed in the early nineteenth century as part of the systematic nomenclature developed for organic chemistry. It combines Greek deka, meaning 'ten', with the suffix -ane, which chemists adopted to denote saturated hydrocarbons of the alkane series. This same Greek root gives English such words as decade, decimal, and December, all carrying the idea of ten or a tenth.
How decane is actually used
Decane is a technical term found mainly in chemistry, petrochemistry, and laboratory contexts. It is not used figuratively in everyday speech.
Easily confused with decane
Octane is an eight-carbon alkane best known as a fuel-rating measure, while decane is the ten-carbon member of the same alkane series.