An important property of the Hydrocarbon fuels is their autoignition temperature, the temperature at which

the fuel will ignite and burn without any source of ignition.

The autoignition temperature of H/C is related to its molecular composition and structure. Effects of the molecular composition and structure of H/C are explained in the following paragraphs: Effect of Molecular Composition :As the number of Carbon atoms increases, autoignition temperature decreases, and that one can observe from the data represented here. e.g.
n-pentane--> 260 C

n-Hexane --> 225 C and so on....

Effect of Structure : As the amount of branching (isomerization) or the number of rings increases, autoignition

temperature increases. In similar way, as number of double and triple bonds increases, autoignition
temperature increses, that can be observed from the data represented here.

n-pentane --> 260 C (R.O.N 62) iso-pentane --> 420 C (R.O.N. 92.3)
n-hexane -->225 C (R.O.N. 24.8)

1-hexene --> 253 C (R.O.N. 76.4) cyclohexane -->245 C (R.O.N. 83) Benzene --> 560 C (R.O.N. 98)

Autoignition Temperature is having major influence on the Octane Number, that can be observed from the data

represented. Higher the autoignition temperature, higher the Octane number.

Paraffins H/C Methane Ethane Propane n-Butane n-Pentane n-Hexane n-Heptane n-Octane n-Nonane n-Decane Chemical Formula CH4 C2H6 C3H8 C4H10 C5H12 C6H14 C7H16 C8H18 C9H20 C10H22 Normal Boiling Point ( C) -161.49 -88.6 -42.05 -0.5 36.07 68.73 98.43 125.68 150.72 174
o

RON 107.5 107.1 105.7 94 62 24.8 0 -19 -34 -53

MON

Auto-Ignition Temperature (C) 580 515 480 420 260 225 222 220 205 210

Olefins H/C Ethylene Propylene 1-butylene 2-butylene 1-Pentylene 1-hexylene 1-Heptene Chemical Formula C2H4 C3H6 C4H8 C4H8 C5H10 C6H12 C7H14 Normal Boiling Point ( C) -78.27 -12.05 -6.38 1 29.96 63.72 93.64
o

RON 100.2 100.4 97.4 99.6 91 76.4 60

MON

Auto-Ignition Temperature (C) 490 458 385 325 298 253

Aromatics H/C Benzene Ethyl Benzene Toluene P-Xylene M-Xylene O-Xylene Chemical Formula C6H6 C8H10 C7H8 C8H10 C8H10 C8H10 Normal Boiling Point (oC) 80.09 136.2 110.63 138.36 139.12 144.43 RON 98 107 110 117 118 120 MON 91 98 103 111 115 102 Auto-Ignition Temperature (C) 560 460 530 530 527 463

Naphthenes H/C cyclo-Hexane Cyclopentane Chemical Formula C6H12 C5H10 Normal Boiling Point (oC) 80.72 49.25 RON 83 101.3 MON 77 84.9 Auto-Ignition Temperature (C) 245 361

Isomers H/C 2-methyl heptane (isooctane) iso-Pentane 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane (iso-Octane) iso-Butane Chemical Formula C8H18 C5H12 C8H18 C4H10 27.84 99.24 -11.72 Normal Boiling Point ( C)
o

RON 23 92.3 100 102

MON

Auto-Ignition Temperature (C)

90.3 100

420 447 462