Eicosane
Eicosane is an alkane with the chemical formula C20H42. It has 366,319 constitutional isomers.
n-Eicosane is the shortest compound found in paraffin waxes, used to form candles. It can be isolated from agave attenuate leaves. It is also found in Vanilla madagascariensis and Gymnodinium nagasakiense.
Eicosane's size, state and chemical inactivity do not exclude it from the traits of its smaller alkane counterparts. It is a colorless or white, non-polar molecule, nearly unreactive except when it burns. It is less dense than and insoluble in water. Its non-polar trait means it can only perform weak intermolecular bonding.
Eicosane's phase transition at a moderate temperature makes it a candidate phase change material, or PCM, which can be used to store thermal energy and control temperature.
It can be detected in the body odor of persons suffering from Parkinson's disease.
Naming
It is derived from ἐίκοσι, Greek for 20.IUPAC currently recommends icosane, whereas Chemical Abstracts Service and Beilstein use eicosane.