Butane
General
Molecular formula	C4H10
SMILES	CCCC
Molar mass	58.08 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless gas
CAS number	[106-97-8]
Properties
Density and phase	2.52 g/l, gas (15 °C, 1 atm)
	0.584 g/cm3, liquid
Solubility in water	6.1 mg/100 ml (20 °C)
Melting point	Not defined
Boiling point	4.6°
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
EU classification	Highly flammable (F+)
NFPA 704	Image File history File links Butane. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1100x672, 165 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Butane ... A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ... The simplified molecular input line entry specification or SMILES is a specification for unambiguously describing the structure of chemical molecules using short ASCII strings. ... Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a chemical element or chemical compound. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... In physics, density is defined as mass m per unit volume V. Mathematically, it is expressed as where, in SI units: ρ (rho) is the density of the substance, measured in kg·m-3 m is the mass of the substance, measured in kg V is the volume of the substance... In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties (i. ... Standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Solution. ... This article describes water from a scientific and technical perspective. ... The melting point of a crystalline solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change its state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid at a given pressure. ... An example MSDS in a US format provides guidance for handling a hazardous substance and information on its composition and properties. ... This page provides supplementary chemical data on butane. ... Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (as amended) is the main source of European Union law concerning chemical safety. ... NFPA 704 is a standard maintained by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association. ... Image File history File links NFPA_704. ... 4 1 0
R-phrases	R12
S-phrases	S2, S9, S16
Flash point	−60 °C
Autoignition temperature	482-538 °C
Explosive limits	1.8–8.4%
Maximum burning temperature	2,350 °C
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related alkanes	Propane Pentane
Related compounds	Isobutane
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Butane, also called n-butane, is the unbranched alkane with four carbon atoms, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃. Butane is also used as a collective term for n-butane together with its only other isomer, isobutane (also called methylpropane), CH(CH₃)₃. R-phrases are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous substances and preparations. ... S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. ... The flash point of a flammable liquid is the lowest temperature at which it can form an ignitable mixture with air. ... The autoignition temperature, or the ignition temperature of a substance is the lowest temperature at which a chemical will spontaneously ignite in a normal atmosphere, without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. ... The explosive limit of a gas or a vapour, is the limiting concentration (in air) that is needed for the gas to ignite and explode. ... This page provides supplementary chemical data on butane. ... This page provides supplementary chemical data on butane. ... The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a material is the factor by which the phase velocity of electromagnetic radiation is slowed in that material, relative to its velocity in a vacuum. ... The dielectric constant εr (represented as or K in some cases) is defined as the ratio: where εs is the static permittivity of the material in question, and ε0 is the vacuum permittivity. ... This page provides supplementary chemical data on butane. ... This page provides supplementary chemical data on butane. ... Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy or Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometry (UV/ VIS) involves the spectroscopy of photons (spectrophotometry). ... IR spectrum of a thin film of liquid ethanol. ... It has been suggested that NMR Data Processing be merged into this article or section. ... Mass spectrometry (also known as mass spectroscopy (deprecated)[1] or in common speech mass-spec) is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. ... Chemical structure of methane, the simplest alkane Alkanes are chemical compounds that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) (i. ... Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a liquid that is transportable. ... Pentane (also known as amyl hydride or skellysolve) is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)3CH3. ... Butane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C4H10. ... In chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 kilopascals) and 25 degrees Celsius (298. ... Chemical structure of methane, the simplest alkane Alkanes are chemical compounds that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) (i. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... “Atomic” redirects here. ... Butane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C4H10. ...

Butanes are highly flammable, colorless, easily liquefied gases. The name butane was derived by back-formation from the name of butyric acid. In physics, to liquefy or liquify means to turn something into the liquid state. ... A gas is one of the four major phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma, that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... Butyric acid, (from Greek βουτυρος = butter) IUPAC name n-Butanoic acid, or normal butyric acid, is a carboxylic acid with structural formula CH3CH2CH2-COOH. It is notably found in rancid butter, parmesan cheese, and vomit, and has an unpleasant odor and acrid taste, with a sweetish aftertaste (similar to ether). ...

Structures of the two isomers of butane

i-butane and n-butane File links The following pages link to this file: Butane Categories: GFDL images ... i-butane and n-butane File links The following pages link to this file: Butane Categories: GFDL images ...

Reactions and uses

When oxygen is plentiful, butane burns to form carbon dioxide and water vapor; when oxygen is limited, carbon (soot) or carbon monoxide may also be formed. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ...

2 C₄H₁₀ + 13 O₂ → 8 CO₂ + 10 H₂O

n-Butane is the feedstock for DuPont's catalytic process for the preparation of maleic anhydride: This article is about the DuPont company. ... R-phrases , , S-phrases , , , , Flash point 102 °C RTECS number UE5950000 Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ + 3.5 O₂ → C₂H₂(CO)₂O + 4 H₂O

n-Butane, like all hydrocarbons, undergoes free radical chlorination providing both 1-chloro- and 2-chlorobutanes, as well as more highly chlorinated derivatives. The relative rates of the chlorination is partially explained by the differing bond dissociation energies, 425 and 411 kJ/mol for the two types of C-H bonds. The two central carbon atoms have the slightly weaker C-H bonds. In chemistry free radicals are uncharged atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons or an otherwise open shell configuration. ... In chemistry, bond dissociation energy, D0, is one measure of the bond strength in a chemical bond. ... The joule (IPA pronunciation: or ) (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. ...

Spectrum of the blue flame from a butane torch showing molecular radical band emission and Swan bands.

Butane gas is sold bottled as a fuel for cooking and camping, in which case it is referred to commercially as LPG. It is also used as a petrol component, as a feedstock for the production of base petrochemicals in steam cracking, as fuel for cigarette lighters and as a propellant in aerosol sprays. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3950x2739, 411 KB)[edit] Summary Spectrum of a blue flame from a pocket butane torch clearly showing non-continuum spectral emission. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3950x2739, 411 KB)[edit] Summary Spectrum of a blue flame from a pocket butane torch clearly showing non-continuum spectral emission. ... In chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons on an otherwise open shell configuration. ... 45 kg LPG cylinders Spherical Gas Container typically found in Refineries. ... A metal naphtha lighter A lighter is a device used to create fire with the intent to ignite another substance such as a cigarette, smoking pipe, or charcoal in a grill. ... A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. ... Aerosol spray can Aerosol spray is the name given to type of spray can with what one might call Aerosol in it. ...

Very pure forms of butane, especially isobutane, are used as a refrigerant have largely replaced the ozone layer depleting halomethanes, for instance in household refrigerators and freezers. The flammability of butane is not a major issue because the amount of butane in an appliance is not enough to cause a combustible mix given the amount of air in a room. The system operating pressure for butane is lower than for the halomethanes, such as R-12, so direct conversion of R-12 systems to butane, such as in automotive air conditioning systems, will not function optimally. 45 kg LPG cylinders Spherical Gas Container typically found in Refineries. ... The ozone layer, or ozonosphere layer (very rarely used term), is the part of the Earths atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). ... Halomethane compounds are molecules of methane (CH4) with one or more of the hydrogen atoms replaced with halogen atoms. ... Disclaimer and references Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12), usually sold under the brand name Freon-12, is a chlorofluorocarbon halomethane used as a refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant until its manufacture was discontinued in 1995, due to concerns about damage to the ozone layer. ...

Effects and health issues

Inhaling butane can cause drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia; cardiac arrhythmia and frostbite, which can result in instant death from Asphyxiation, Acute toxicity and ventricular fibrillation. Butane is the most commonly misused volatile solvent in the UK, and was the cause of 52% of solvent related deaths in 2000.^[1] By spraying butane directly into the throat, the jet of fluid can cool rapidly to –20 °C by expansion, causing prolonged laryngospasm.^[2] "Sudden sniffing death syndrome", first described by Bass in 1970,^[3] is the most common single cause of solvent related death, resulting in 55% of known fatal cases.^[2] Somnolence (or drowsiness, or hypersomnia) is a state of near-sleep, a strong desire for sleep, or sleeping unusually long periods. ... For the effect of diving deep with nitrogen, see Nitrogen narcosis. ... Suffocation redirects here, for the band, see Suffocation (band). ... Cardiac arrhythmia is a group of conditions in which the muscle contraction of the heart is irregular or is faster or slower than normal. ... Frostbite (congelatio in medical terminology) is the medical condition where damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. ... Asphyxia is a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body. ... Acute Toxicity is a property of a substance that has toxic effects on a living organism, when that organism is exposed to a lethal dose of a substance once. ... Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is a cardiac condition which consists of a lack of coordination of the contraction of the muscle tissue of the large chambers of the heart that eventually leads to the heart stopping altogether. ... In medicine, laryngospasm is an uncontrolled/involuntary muscular contraction (spasm) of the laryngeal cords. ...

See also

• Volatile substance abuse
• Camping Gaz
• Calor gas

Volatile substance abuse or solvent abuse (called huffing) is the practice of inhaling volatile substances for their psychoactive effects. ... Camping Gaz is a brand of compressed butane[1] gas designed for use as a fuel whilst camping and caravanning. ... Formed in 1935 Calor is the UKs leading supplier of LPG servicing around 4 million homes and businesses. ...

References

1. ^ Trends in death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971-2004 Field-Smith M, Bland JM, Taylor JC, et al., Department of Public Health Sciences. London: St George’s Medical School
2. ^ ^{a b} Ramsey J, Anderson HR, Bloor K, et al. An introduction to the practice, prevalence and chemical toxicology of volatile substance abuse. Hum Toxicol 1989;8:261–9
3. ^ Bass M. Sudden sniffing death. JAMA 1970;212:2075–9

External links

• International Chemical Safety Card 0232
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
• European Chemicals Bureau
• n-Butane Molecule of the Month
• Molview from bluerhinos.co.uk See Butane in 3D
• Computational Chemistry Wiki
• Data from Air Liquide
• World LP Gas Association (WLPGA)
• LP Gas Association: Propane and Butane in the UK
• Links to external chemical sources