n-Butane

C₄H₁₀
CAS Number 106-97-8
UN1011 (gas)

Molecule
Properties
Applications
Safety & Compatibility
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Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate the volume or mass of a quantity of gas or liquid

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Gas Phase

In standard conditions (1.013 bar, 15°C)

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Physical Properties

Download the set of data (XLS - 78.95 KB)

General Properties
Solid Phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

Molecule phase diagram showing the transition phases between solid, liquid and gas as a function of temperature and pressure

Pressure (bar)

- Molar mass 58.122 g/mol
- Content in dry air /
Critical Point
- Temperature 151.97 °C
- Pressure 37.96 bar
- Density 227.93 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -138.26 °C
- Pressure 6.736E-6 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	80.193 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 138.29 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 0.49 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	385.71 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	601.26 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.5911E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1188
Gas density (at boiling point)	2.709 kg/m³
Gas density	2.703 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	222.44 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.6426 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.4682 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	2.08
Specific volume	0.37 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	14.189 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	1.0339 bar
Viscosity	6.769E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.6616E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1102
Gas density	2.5436 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	236.38 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.6944 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.5263 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	3.274E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	2.08
Specific volume	3.931E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	15.59 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	1.7644 bar
Viscosity	7.1524E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.6996E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1052
Gas density	2.4487 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	245.54 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.7317 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.5668 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	2.244E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	2.08
Specific volume	4.084E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	16.564 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	2.4368 bar
Viscosity	7.4054E-5 Po

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Laboratories & Research Centers

N-Butane is used in calibration gas mixtures for petrochemical industry, environmental emission monitoring and trace impurity analyzers.

Other

N-Butane is used as a propellant for aerosol production.

Safety & Compatibility

Major Hazards
Material Compatibility

GHS02

Flammable

Autoignition Temperature, Flammability Limits & Flash Point

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (Chemsafe)	392 °C
Lower flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	1.4 vol%
Upper flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	9.4 vol%

US (according to ASTM E681 for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (NFPA 325)	287 °C
Lower flammability limit (NFPA 325)	1.9 vol%
Upper flammability limit (NFPA 325)	8.5 vol%

Threshold of toxicity

VLEP 8h France (at Patm and 293.15 K)

1900 mg/m³ or 800 ppm

Odor

Faintly disagreeable

Metals

Aluminium	Satisfactory
Brass	Satisfactory
Monel	No data
Copper	No data
Ferritic Steel	Satisfactory
Stainless steel	Satisfactory
Zinc	No data
Titanium	No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride	Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride	Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene	No data
Polycarbonate	No data
Polyamide	Satisfactory
Polypropylene	Satisfactory

Elastomers

Butyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber	Significant swelling Not recommended
Nitrile rubber	Satisfactory
Chloroprene	Satisfactory
Chlorofluorocarbons	No data
Silicone	Significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material Not recommended
Perfluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene	Significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material Not recommended

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant	Significant loss of mass Not recommended
Fluorocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

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More information

n-Butane is one of the structural isomers of Butane, an organic compound with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. The name butane comes from the roots "but-" from "butyric acid". Butane is mainly used as a fuel for domestic use (gas stove, water heater) and for extras (heating). n-Butane is prepared by pressurized distillation of liquefied petroleum gas or by purification of natural gas. It is solvable in aclohol and ether but not so much in water. Mostly inert, it needs a catalyst to participate in chimical reactions, except for combustion with dioxygen. Butanes are highly flammable, colorless, easily liquefied gases.