| Ethane |
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Physical Properties
Color - Colorless
Odor - Odorless
Molecular Weight - \(30.07g/mol\)
Melting Point - \(-297 F^\circ(-182.8C^\circ)\)
Boiling Point - \(-127 F^\circ(-88.6C^\circ)\)
Flash Point - \(-211 F^\circ(-135C^\circ)\)
Autoignition Temp. - \(960 F^\circ(515C^\circ)\)
LFL - \(3.0\)%
UFL - \(12.5\)% to \(15.3\)%
PEL -
Density - \(0.01967lbm/in^3@-128F^\circ (0.5446g/cc@-89C^\circ)\)
Chemical Properties
Chemical Formula - \(C_2H_6\)
State of Matter - Gas
Flammability - Highly
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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.
