Why are short chain hydrocarbons easier to ignite?

The fractions from crude oil all contain hydrocarbons, molecules that are made from hydrogen and carbon atoms only. Hydrocarbons with small ... read more

They're easier to ignite because they have a high vapor pressure, and at room temperature many of them are already gases. That makes it very easy to have a fuel-air mixture that bursts into flame when contacted with a spark. Whether a short chain hydrocarbon is a"better fuel" depends on your definition of what constitutes a better fuel. read more

The shorter-chain hydrocarbons have lower boiling points than the longer-chain compounds. C1-C4 are already gases at room temperature and from C5 onwards these liquids will have gradually decreasing vapour pressures at room temperature and so become harder and harder to ignite. read more