Butane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Butane |
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Preferred IUPAC name
Butane
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Tetracarbane (never recommended)
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| Other names | Butyl hydride Quartane |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| EC number | 203-448-7 |
| KEGG | D03186 |
| MeSH | |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:37808 |
| RTECS number | EJ4200000 |
| SMILES | CCCC |
| Beilstein Reference | 969129 |
| Gmelin Reference | 1148 |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | |
| Molar mass | 0 g mol-1 |
| Appearance | Colorless gas |
| Odor | Gasoline-like or natural gas-like |
| Density | 2.48 kg/m3 (at 15 °C (59 °F)) |
| Melting point | |
| Boiling point | |
| 61 mg L−1 (at 20 °C (68 °F)) | |
| log P | 2.745 |
| Vapor pressure | ~170 kPa at 283 K |
| kH | 11 nmol Pa−1 kg−1 |
| Conjugate acid | Butanium |
| -57.4·10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std enthalpy of formation ΔfH |
−126.3–−124.9 kJ mol−1 |
| Std enthalpy of combustion ΔcH |
−2.8781–−2.8769 MJ mol−1 |
| Specific heat capacity, C | 98.49 J K−1 mol−1 |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 |
4
1
0
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| Explosive limits | 1.8–8.4% |
| U.S. Permissible exposure limit (PEL) |
none |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) | |
Butane is an organic compound with the chemical formula C4H10. It is an alkane with four carbon atoms. It is used as a fuel (sometimes with propane) and in aerosol cans.
Contents
Uses of Butane
Butane is sold in canisters, for cooking and camping. It is also used as fuel in cigarette lighters, and as propellant in aerosol sprays or deodorants. Some kinds of Butane are used in refrigerators.
Mixtures with Propane are known as LPG.
Dangers
Butane can be hazardous. Inhalation can lead to death by asphyxiation due to displacement of oxygen in the lungs. Contact with the skin can lead to frostbite. If the gas is mixed with air and ignighted it is prone to explode like many other fuels that are volatile
Images for kids
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Propane & butane density data
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Spectrum of the blue flame from a butane torch showing CH molecular radical band emission and C2 Swan bands
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Butane fuel canisters for use in camping stoves
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Butane lighter, showing liquid butane reservoir
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Butane gas cylinder used for cooking
See also
In Spanish: Butano para niños
