Encyclopedia

cyclohexane

cyclohexane (sī"kluhek'sān) [key], C6H12, colorless liquid hydrocarbon. It is a cyclic alkane that melts at 6°C and boils at 81°C. It is nearly insoluble in water. Cyclohexane is found naturally to some extent in petroleum but is prepared commercially by catalytic hydrogenation of benzene. It is widely used as a solvent and in making certain compounds used in the preparation of nylon.

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