Octane
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Octane is a hydrocarbon and also an alkane with the chemical formula C8H18, and the condensed structural formula CH36CH3. Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the location of branching in
N-octane is the octane isomer that has the longest carbon skeleton. Unlike its constitutional isomers, it has a very low knock resistance.
The octane isomer, iso-octane, is used as one of the standards for octane ratings. It has a rating of 100 by definition.
The octane isomer 2,3,3-Trimethylpentane has an octane rating exceeding 100.
Octane rating
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An octane rating, or octane number, is a standard measure of a fuel's ability to withstand compression in an internal combustion engine without causing engine knocking. The higher the octane number, t
Octane
…branching in the carbon chain. One of these isomers, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (commonly called iso-octane), is used as one of the standard values in the octane rating scale. Octane is a component of gasoline and petroleum. Under standard temperature and pressure, octane is an odorless, colorless liquid. Like other…
A US gasoline pump offering five different octane ratings
Gas stations have gasoline with different octane ratings. Higher numbers indicate that the fuel can better avoid unintended combustions within the cylinders of the engine.
A 1940s US propaganda poster using the term "octane" to emphasise power