Butane
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
 
| |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Systematic name | Butane |
| Other names | n-butane |
| Molecular formula | C4H10 |
| SMILES | CCCC |
| Molar mass | 58.12 g/mol58.12 amu |
| Appearance | Colorless gas |
| CAS number | 106-97-8 |
| Properties | |
| Density and phase |
2.48 kg/m30.00248 g/ml gas 15°C 1atm |
| Solubility in water | 6.1 mg/100 ml (20°C) |
| Melting point | 138.4°C411.55 K 281.12 °F 740.79 °R |
| Boiling point | -0.5°C272.65 K 31.1 °F 490.77 °R |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | Material safety data sheet |
| NFPA 704 |
4
1
0
|
| Flash point | -60°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 500°C |
| Related compounds | |
| Related Alkanes | Propane, Pentane |
Butane is a very familiar organic compound that we use a lot in our normal lives. This colorless odorless gas is mostly obtained from natural raw gas. Butane is widely used as a fuel source such as LPG (mixture of butane and propane) or camping fuel for its high compressibility.
Contents |
Properties
Butane, a colorless and odorless gas, is one of the alkane series with four carbons. Therefore, it shares many properties with other alkanes. There is a tendency among alkanes that heavier alkane tends to be in liquid phase while lighter alkane tends to be in gas phase. Since the boiling point of butane is below 0°C, most of the time butane exists in gaseous phase. However some change of condition in pressure can make butane gas be butane liquid. This property of butane allows it to be a commonly used fuel.
Like other alkanes, under the condition of existence of abundant oxygen, butane can easily react with oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide. In lack of oxygen, butane may produce carbon monoxide.[1]
Occurrences
There are two ways to obtain butane. One is by the separation of raw natural gas. This process is done by using nitrogen-selective membranes which abstracts excess nitrogen from natural gas or methane-rich gas. The other is by refining crude oil. Well, crude oil is pretty similar to natural gas in its occurrence. However, the crude oil is not so frequently used as a source of butane because it only gives small amount of butane gas.[2]
Uses
Thanks to its properties, butane is an ideal compound to be a portable fuel in our lives. When butane gas is compressed (high pressure), butane gas quickly changes to liquid. By compressing butane gas into a metal bottle or a small container, a camping fuel or a candle lighter is made.
Butane gas is used as a fuel source in another way. When butane gas and propane gas is combined, they produce LPG (Liquid Propane Gas). While propane carries more energy, butane gives portability with its property – being liquefied easily. And this LPG gas does not pollute the air by producing carbon monoxide or any acidic product like a coal; it is used widely as a semi-green fuel source.
Besides being a fuel source, butane is also used in other fields. Pure butane gas can substitute Freon gas as a refrigerant, which has been destroying the ozone layer. [3]
Isomers
Basically, isomer means a compound with same formula but different structure. Often times, isomers have iso- in front of names of compounds, as a prefix, to identify themselves as isomers. Butane has one isomer. This isobutane is also called methylpropane or 2-methylropane, meaning attachment on 2nd carbon of propane. Isobutane was used more often during past couple decades. [4]
References
- Natural gas separation using nitrogen-selective membranes patent storm
- Butane The Columbia Encyclopedia
- What is Butane? wise GEEK
- Natural gas separation using nitrogen-selective membranes of modest selectivity free patents online
- Information on LPG e-lpg.com
- What is Isobutane? wise GEEK
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