What is "heptadecane"

n. (context organic compound English) An alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH₃(CH₂)₁₅CH₃.

Heptadecane is an organic compound, an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH. The name may refer to any of 24894 theoretically possible structural isomers, or to a mixture thereof.

The unbranched isomer is normal or n-heptadecane, CH(CH)CH. In the IUPAC nomenclature, the name of this compound is simply heptadecane, since the other isomers are viewed and named as alkyl-substituted versions of smaller alkanes.

The most compact and branched isomer would be 3,3-di-tert-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentane, but its existence is believed to be impossible due to steric hindrance. Indeed, it is believed to be the smallest "impossible" alkane.