Butane

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Butane
Skeletal formula of butane with all implicit hydrogens shown
Skeletal formula of butane with all carbon and hydrogen atoms shown
Ball-and-stick model of the butane molecule
Space-filling model of the butane molecule
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Butane[3]
Systematic IUPAC name
Tetracarbane (never recommended[3])
Other names
Butyl hydride[1]
Methylethylmethane[1]
Quartane[2]
Identifiers
106-97-8 YesY
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
969129
ChEBI CHEBI:37808 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL134702 YesY
ChemSpider 7555 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.136
EC Number 203-448-7
E number E943a (glazing agents, ...)
1148
KEGG D03186 YesY
MeSH butane
PubChem 7843
RTECS number EJ4200000
UNII 6LV4FOR43R YesY
UN number 1011
Properties
C4H10
Molar mass 58.12 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless gas
Odor Gasoline-like or natural gas-like[1]
Density 2.48 kg/m3 (at 15 °C (59 °F))
Melting point −140 to −134 °C; −220 to −209 °F; 133 to 139 K
Boiling point −1 to 1 °C; 30 to 34 °F; 272 to 274 K
61 mg L−1 (at 20 °C (68 °F))
log P 2.745
Vapor pressure ~170 kPa at 283 K [4]
11 nmol Pa−1 kg−1
-57.4·10−6 cm3/mol
Thermochemistry
98.49 J K−1 mol−1
−126.3–−124.9 kJ mol−1
−2.8781–−2.8769 MJ mol−1
Hazards[5]
Safety data sheet See: data page
GHS pictograms The flame pictogram in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
GHS signal word DANGER
H220
P210
Extremely Flammable F+
R-phrases R12
S-phrases (S2) S16
NFPA 704
Flammability code 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g., propane Health code 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g., turpentine Reactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g., liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Flash point −60 °C (−76 °F; 213 K)
288 °C (550 °F; 561 K)
Explosive limits 1.8–8.4%
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
PEL (Permissible)
 none[1]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 800 ppm (1900 mg/m3)[1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 N.D.[1]
Related compounds
Related alkanes
Related compounds
 Perfluorobutane
Supplementary data page
Refractive index (n),
Dielectric constant (εr), etc.
Thermodynamic
data
 Phase behaviour
solid–liquid–gas
UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
YesY verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Butane (/ˈbjuːteɪn/) is an organic compound with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. Butane is a gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The term may refer to either of two structural isomers, n-butane or isobutane (also called "methylpropane"), or to a mixture of these isomers. In the IUPAC nomenclature, however, "butane" refers only to the n-butane isomer (which is the isomer with the unbranched structure). Butanes are highly flammable, colorless, easily liquefied gases. The name butane comes from the roots but- (from butyric acid, named after the Greek word for butter) and -ane.

Isomers[edit]

Common name normal butane
unbranched butane
n-butane		 isobutane
i-butane
IUPAC name butane 2-methylpropane
Molecular
diagram		 Butan Lewis.svg Isobutane 1.svg
Skeletal
diagram		 Butane simple.svg I-Butane-2D-Skeletal.svg

Rotation about the central C−C bond produces two different conformations (trans and gauche) for n-butane.[6]

Reactions[edit]

Spectrum of the blue flame from a butane torch showing CH molecular radical band emission and C2 Swan bands

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.

When there is sufficient oxygen:

2 C4H10 + 13 O2 → 8 CO2 + 10 H2O

When oxygen is limited:

2 C4H10 + 9 O2 → 8 CO + 10 H2O

The maximum adiabatic flame temperature of butane with air is 2,243 K (1,970 °C; 3,578 °F).

n-Butane is the feedstock for DuPont's catalytic process for the preparation of maleic anhydride:

2 CH3CH2CH2CH3 + 7 O2 → 2 C2H2(CO)2O + 8 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.

Uses[edit]

Normal butane can be used for gasoline blending, as a fuel gas, either alone or in a mixture with propane, and as a feedstock for the manufacture of ethylene and butadiene, a key ingredient of synthetic rubber. Isobutane is primarily used by refineries to enhance (increase) the octane number of motor gasoline.[7][8][9][10]

When blended with propane and other hydrocarbons, it may be referred to commercially as LPG, for liquefied petroleum gas. It is 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 such as deodorants.[11]

Very pure forms of butane, especially isobutane, can be used as refrigerants and have largely replaced the ozone-layer-depleting halomethanes, for instance in household refrigerators and freezers. The system operating pressure for butane is lower than for the halomethanes, such as R-12, so R-12 systems such as in automotive air conditioning systems, when converted to pure butane will not function optimally and therefor a mix of Isobutane and Propane is used to give cooling system performance comparable to R-12.

Butane is also used as lighter fuel for a common lighter or butane torch and is sold bottled as a fuel for cooking and camping stoves. Butane canisters are almost exclusively manufactured in South Korea with the only exception being one manufacturer in Houston, Texas. [12] Butane canisters manufactured in South Korea contain butane from Saudi Arabia, while the American manufacturer fills canisters with domestic butane. [13]

In this form it is often mixed with small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans which will give the unburned gas an offensive smell easily detected by the human nose. In this way, butane leaks can easily be identified. While hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans are toxic, they are present in levels so low that suffocation and fire hazard by the butane becomes a concern far before toxicity. Most commercially available butane also contains a certain amount of contaminant oil which can be removed through filtration but which will otherwise leave a deposit at the point of ignition and may eventually block the uniform flow of gas.

Cordless hair irons are usually powered by butane cartridges.[14]

Photo D2.jpg The Green Lighter 1 ies.jpg Aerosol.png ButaneGasCylinder WhiteBack.jpg
Butane fuel canisters for use in camping stoves. Butane lighter, showing liquid butane reservoir Butane being sprayed from an aerosol spray can Butane gas cylinder used for cooking

Effects and health issues[edit]

Inhalation of butane can cause euphoria, drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia, cardiac arrhythmia, fluctuations in blood pressure and temporary memory loss, when abused directly from a highly pressurized container, and can result in death from asphyxiation and ventricular fibrillation. It enters the blood supply and within seconds produce intoxication.[15] Butane is the most commonly misused volatile substance in the UK, and was the cause of 52% of solvent related deaths in 2000.[16] By spraying butane directly into the throat, the jet of fluid can cool rapidly to −20 °C (−4 °F) by expansion, causing prolonged laryngospasm.[17] "Sudden sniffer's death" syndrome, first described by Bass in 1970,[18] is the most common single cause of solvent related death, resulting in 55% of known fatal cases.[17]

A small amount of nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas, results from burning butane gas, along with any combustion in the earth's atmosphere, and represents a human health hazard from home heaters and stoves.[19]

See also[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards #0068". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 
  2. ^ http://rspl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/15/54.full.pdf+html
  3. ^ a b Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 4. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4. Similarly, the retained names ‘ethane’, ‘propane’, and ‘butane’ were never replaced by systematic names ‘dicarbane’, ‘tricarbane’, and ‘tetracarbane’ as recommended for analogues of silane, ‘disilane’; phosphane, ‘triphosphane’; and sulfane, ‘tetrasulfane’. 
  4. ^ W. B. Kay. "Pressure-Volume-Temperature Relations for n-Butane". Standard Oil Company. 
  5. ^ "Safety Data Sheet, Material Name: N-Butane" (PDF). USA: Matheson Tri-Gas Incorporated. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2011. 
  6. ^ Roman M. Balabin (2009). "Enthalpy Difference between Conformations of Normal Alkanes: Raman Spectroscopy Study of n-Pentane and n-Butane". J. Phys. Chem. A. 113 (6): 1012–9. doi:10.1021/jp809639s. PMID 19152252. 
  7. ^ MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Form 10-K. Sec.gov
  8. ^ Copano Energy, L.L.C. Form 10-K. Sec.gov. Retrieved on 2012-12-03.
  9. ^ Targa Resources Partners LP Form10-k. Sec.gov. Retrieved on 2012-12-03.
  10. ^ Crosstex Energy, L.P. FORM 10-K. Sec.gov
  11. ^ A Primer on Gasoline Blending. An EPRINC Briefing Memorandum
  12. ^ http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Houston-businessman-overcame-hardships-of-Chinese-8313857.php
  13. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/26/houston-entrepreneur-overcame-hardships-chinese-pr/
  14. ^ FAA: Hazardous Materials p. 4
  15. ^ "butane gas inhalants enter through the pulmonary system". Retrieved 3 October 2016. 
  16. ^ Field-Smith M, Bland JM, Taylor JC, et al. "Trends in death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971–2004" (PDF). Department of Public Health Sciences. London: St George’s Medical School. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2007. 
  17. ^ a b Ramsey J, Anderson HR, Bloor K, et al. (1989). "An introduction to the practice, prevalence and chemical toxicology of volatile substance abuse". Hum Toxicol. 8 (4): 261–269. doi:10.1177/096032718900800403. PMID 2777265. 
  18. ^ Bass M. (1970). "Sudden sniffing death". JAMA. 212 (12): 2075–2079. doi:10.1001/jama.1970.03170250031004. PMID 5467774. 
  19. ^ Ghosn, Marwan; Flouty, Roula; Saliba, Najat A. (2005). "Emission of Nitrogen Dioxide from Butane Gas Heaters and Stoves Indoors". American Journal of Applied Sciences. 2 (3): 707. doi:10.3844/ajassp.2005.707.710. 

External links[edit]

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