Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
PARAFFINS: CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
N
ITRATION
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
NO
2
CH
3
CH(NO
2
)
CH
3
400°C
HNO
3
CH
3
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
2
NO
2
CH
3
NO
2
O
XIDATION
CH
4
+
O
2
CO
2
+
2H
2
O
P
YROLYSIS
OR
“C
RACKING
”
CH
3
CH
=
CH
2
+
H
2
pressure
500
2CH
3
CH
2
CH
3
°
C
+
CH
2
=
CH
2
+
CH
4
I
SOMERIZATION
catalyst
CH
3
CH
2
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH(CH
3
)CH
3
Paraffins react with nitric acid at high temperatures to form a mixture of
nitroparaffins which find use as solvents.
Oxidation by reaction with oxygen in the air is a major use of paraffins.
Paraffins are converted to more reactive compounds called olefins by “crack-
ing” under pressure at high temperature.
An important reaction in the manufacture of gasoline is
isomerization
of
straight-chain paraffins to more highly branched compounds, which have
better fuel properties (higher octane rating).
