what is hexadecane
For the diesel fuel analysis, see cetane number. Hexadecane (also called cetane) is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C 16 H 34. Hexadecane consists of a chain of 16 carbon atoms, with three hydrogen atoms bonded to the two end carbon atoms, and two hydrogens bonded to each of the 14 other carbon atoms.Cetane is often used as a shorthand for cetane number, a measure of the detonation of diesel fuel.Cetane ignites very easily under compression; for this reason, it is assigned a cetane number of 100, and serves as a reference for other fuel mixtures.etane is often used as a shorthand for cetane number, a measure of the detonation of diesel fuel. Cetane ignites very easily under compression; for this reason, it is assigned a cetane number of 100, and serves as a reference for other fuel mixtures.