pentadecane
/ˈpɛntədɪkeɪn/Chemistry
noun
Any of a series of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) with the formula C15H32, especially (also n- pentadecane) the unbranched isomer, CH3(CH2)13CH3, a liquid present in petroleum.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Henry Watts (1815–1884), chemist. From penta- + deca- + -ane. Compare French pentadécane, German Pentadecan, and also Byzantine Greek πενταδεκα-, variant (in πενταδεκαέτης) of ancient Greek πεντεκαιδεκα-, combining form (in e.g. πεντεκαιδεκαετής fifteen years old) of πεντεκαίδεκα fifteen.