| Ethane |
|---|
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Physical Properties
Color - Colorless
Odor - Odorless
Density - \(0.01967 \; lbm/in^3 \;\)@\(\; -128 \; F^\circ \; (0.5446 \; g/cc \;\)@\(\; -89 \; C^\circ)\)
Molar Mass - \(30.07 \; g/mol \;(30.07 \; g/mol)\)
Chemical Properties
Chemical Formula - \(C_2H_6\)
State of Matter - Gas
Flammability - Highly
Thermal Properties
Melting Point - \(-297 \; F^\circ \; (-182.8 \; C^\circ)\)
Boiling Point - \(-127 \; F^\circ \; (-88.6 \; C^\circ)\)
Flash Point - \(-211 \; F^\circ \; (-135 \; C^\circ)\)
Autoignition Temp. - \(960 \; F^\circ \; (515 \; C^\circ)\)
LFL - \(3.0\)%
UFL - \(12.5\)% to \(15.3\)%
Thermal Conductivity - \(0.0763 \; BTUin/hrft^3F^\circ \;\)@\(\; 14.5 \; psi \; -99.7 \; F^\circ \; (0.0110 \; W/mK \;\)@\(\; 0.100 \; MPa \; -73.1 \; C^\circ )\)
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Ethane is the second simplest alkane hydrocarbon, composed of two carbon atoms connected by a single bond, with each carbon atom also bonded to three hydrogen atoms, resulting in the chemical formula \(C_2H_6\). Like methane and butane, it is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas at standard temperature and pressure. Ethane is a significant component of natural gas, typically making up between 5% and 10% of its volume, and is often separated from natural gas streams for various industrial applications. Its primary use is as a feedstock in the petrochemical industry, where it is "cracked" (thermally decomposed) to produce ethylene, a crucial building block for manufacturing plastics (like polyethylene), synthetic fibers, and a wide range of other organic chemicals. Due to its flammability, ethane requires careful handling and storage.
