Isomers of heptane: a general characteristic and application

Alkanes (paraffins, saturated hydrocarbons) are bio-compounds consisting only of C and H atoms in which all atoms are bound by simple sigma bonds. The simplest limiting hydrocarbon is methane. Each subsequent hydrocarbon of this series differs from the previous one by the group CH2. In the indicated series of compounds, the neighboring terms differ from each other by the homological difference (CH2), similar series are called homologous. Such series are characterized by close chemical properties and regularly changing physical properties.

The main source of fusion is oil. It should be noted that its biochemical composition depends on the deposit. Unsaturated hydrocarbons are a valuable source for the production of formaldehyde, methanol, chloroform, plastics, synthetic resins, esters, acetone, glycerol, propylene, polypropylene, synthetic butane diene rubber, acetate, etc. In industry, alkanes are derived from brown and coal coal shale. Under normal conditions alkanes are chemically inert substances. At room temperature, they do not react with either concentrated sulfate acid, nor with alkali metals, nor with caustic alkalis. Paraffins easily enter substitution reactions, which proceed along a radical mechanism. Under thermal conditions, they can oxidize and undergo decomposition.

Heptane isomers can be obtained either by conventional methods of alkane synthesis or by separation from synthetic gasoline or oil. N-Heptane is a colorless liquid with a weak specific odor, it is readily soluble in organic solvents (ethanol, chloroform, diethyl ether). Isomers of heptane, in particular, tryptane (2,2,3-trimethylbutane-CH3-C (CH3) 2-CH (CH3) -CH3) have practical uses. This compound is used as an additive to motor fuel. Isomers of heptane are contained in gasoline fractions of oil and gas condensates. N-Heptane - the primary standard in determining the detonation properties of carburetor fuel. During the reforming process, n-Hexane is converted to isomers of heptane, then dehydrocyclized into the aromatic compound-toluene.

In organic chemistry, the phenomenon of isomerism is widespread. There are two main types of isomerism - structural and stereoisomerism. Each type can be divided into species: the isomerism of the hydrocarbon chain, the placement of double bonds and functional groups in the carboxylic radical, metamerism, the isomerism of the arrangement of substituents in the benzene nucleus. A special place among stereoisomers is occupied by optical isomerism. This species is associated with the ability of some groups of organic substances in solutions to exhibit optical activity. Substances that are capable of exhibiting optical activity are called optically active substances. The isomerism of organic compounds is determined using a special device - a polarimeter. The device is equipped with two prisms Nicholas, an analyzer, a polarimeter tube.

Optically active substances, as a rule, exist in the form of two optical isomers. They are called optical antipodes, or enantiomers. A mixture that includes equimolecular amounts of enantiomers, optically inactive, is called a racemate or a racemic compound. The racemates are denoted by ±. The simplest optically active substance is lactate acid, in the molecule of which there is one asymmetric carbon atom, the valence of which is connected with four different substituents - hydrogen, hydroxyl, methyl and carboxyl groups.

Each organic compound in whose molecule there is an asymmetric carbon atom exists in the form of spatial forms (models) with the same number of the same atoms and atomic groups located around the asymmetric carbon so that when they are combined (shapes, models) in space it is impossible To achieve their complete coincidence. These models are similar to the right and left hand of a person or as an object and its mirror image. Therefore, they are called chiral isomers, and isomerism - optical, or mirror.