| Description |
Eicosane, also known as ch3-[ch2]18-ch3 or octyldodecane, is a member of the class of compounds known as alkanes. Alkanes are acyclic branched or unbranched hydrocarbons having the general formula CnH2n+2 , and therefore consisting entirely of hydrogen atoms and saturated carbon atoms. Thus, eicosane is considered to be a hydrocarbon lipid molecule. Eicosane is an alkane and waxy tasting compound and can be found in a number of food items such as linden, papaya, dill, and lemon balm, which makes eicosane a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Eicosane can be found primarily in feces and saliva. Icosane's size, state or chemical inactivity does not exclude it from the traits its smaller alkane counterparts have. It is a colorless, non-polar molecule, nearly unreactive except when it burns. It is less dense than and insoluble in water. Its non-polar trait means it can only perform weak intermolecular bonding (hydrophobic/van der Waals forces) . |
