Hexane
in chemistry, C6H14, five isomeric hydrocarbons exist. (1) Normal hexane. Dipropyl, CH3-CH2-CH2- CH2-CH2CH3. It occurs in the light oils obtained by the distillation of cannel coal, also in petroleum. It can be obtained by the action of sodium and normal propyl iodide, CHI, or by the action of zinc and hydrochloric acid on secondary hexyl iodide (from mannite), and by distilling suberic acid with baryta, CgH14O4 + 2BaO = 2BaCO3 + C6H14. It boils at 71°. (2) Propyl dimethy methane, or propyl isopropyl, ethyl isobutyl, obtained by the action of sodium on a mixture of ethyl iodide and isobutyl iodide.