n-Butane

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n-Butane

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C₄H₁₀

n-Butane

Physical Properties

Under solid (grey), liquid (blue) and vapor states (white) along the equilibrium curves

General properties
Solid phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

(P)

log(P)

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Molecular weight

58.122
g/mol
Content in dry air

/

Critical Point

Temperature

151.97
°C
305.546 °F 425.12 K
Pressure

37.96
bar
3.796E6 pa 550.563 lbf/in2 37.4636 Atm 3796 Kpa 2.8472E4 mmHg
Density

227.93
kg/m³
14.2292 lb/ft³

Triple Point

Temperature

- 138.26
°C
- 216.868 °F 134.89 K
Pressure

6.736E-6
bar
6.736E-1 pa 9.7697E-5 lbf/in2 6.6479E-6 Atm 6.736E-4 Kpa 5.0524E-3 mmHg

Pressure 1.013 bar

Melting point

- 138.29
°C
- 216.922 °F 134.86 K
Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)

80.193
kJ/kg
34.4999 Btu/lb 19.1666 kcal/kg
Solid density

/

Pressure 1.013 bar

Liquid density (at boiling point)

601.26
kg/m³
37.5353 lb/ft³
Boiling point

- 0.49
°C
31.118 °F 272.66 K
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)

385.71
kJ/kg
165.9367 Btu/lb 92.1869 kcal/kg

Pressure1.013barTemperature

Compressibility factor Z

9.5911E-1

9.6616E-1

9.6996E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ

1.1188

1.1102

1.1052
Dynamic viscosity

6.769E-5
Po
6.769 µPa.s 6.769E-6 PA.S 4.5486E-6 lb/ft/s

7.1524E-5
Po
7.1524 µPa.s 7.1524E-6 PA.S 4.8062E-6 lb/ft/s

7.4054E-5
Po
7.4054 µPa.s 7.4054E-6 PA.S 4.9762E-6 lb/ft/s
Gas density at boiling point

2.709
kg/m³
1.6912E-1 lb/ft³

2.709
kg/m³
1.6912E-1 lb/ft³

2.709
kg/m³
1.6912E-1 lb/ft³
Gas density

2.703
kg/m³
1.6874E-1 lb/ft³

2.5436
kg/m³
1.5879E-1 lb/ft³

2.4487
kg/m³
1.5287E-1 lb/ft³
Heat capacity at constant pressure Cp

1.6426
kJ/(kg.K)
3.9259E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1642.6 J/kg∙K 3.9259E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.6944
kJ/(kg.K)
4.0497E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1694.4 J/kg∙K 4.0497E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.7317
kJ/(kg.K)
4.1389E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1731.7 J/kg∙K 4.1389E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Heat capacity at constant volume Cv

1.4682
kJ/(kg.K)
3.5091E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1468.2 J/kg∙K 3.5091E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.5263
kJ/(kg.K)
3.6479E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1526.3 J/kg∙K 3.6479E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.5668
kJ/(kg.K)
3.7447E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1566.8 J/kg∙K 3.7447E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Liquid (at boiling point)/gas equivalent

222.44
mol/mol

236.38
mol/mol

245.54
mol/mol
Solubility in water

/

3.274E-5
mol/mol

2.244E-5
mol/mol
Specific gravity

2.08

2.08

2.08
Specific volume

0.37
m³/kg
5.9268 ft³/lb

3.931E-1
m³/kg
6.2969 ft³/lb

4.084E-1
m³/kg
6.5419 ft³/lb
Thermal conductivity

14.189
mW/m∙K
8.2037E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.2209E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.3913E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.4189E-2 W/(m∙K)

15.59
mW/m∙K
9.0137E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.3414E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.7261E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.559E-2 W/(m∙K)

16.564
mW/m∙K
9.5769E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.4252E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.9589E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.6564E-2 W/(m∙K)
Vapor pressure

1.0339
bar
1.0339E5 pa 14.9954 lbf/in2 1.0204 Atm 103.39 Kpa 775.4909 mmHg

1.7644
bar
1.7644E5 pa 25.5904 lbf/in2 1.7413 Atm 176.44 Kpa 1323.4125 mmHg

2.4368
bar
2.4368E5 pa 35.3428 lbf/in2 2.4049 Atm 243.68 Kpa 1827.7554 mmHg

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C₄H₁₀

n-Butane

Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate a liquid or gas volume or a mass

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)

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C₄H₁₀

n-Butane

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.

Laboratories & Research Centers

Other

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

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C₄H₁₀

n-Butane

Safety & Compatibility

Information to safely use this molecule

Major hazards
Material compatibility

Safety

GHS02

Flammable

Autoignition Temperature in Air at Patm and Flammability Limits in Air at Patm and 293.15 K (except if the temperature is indicated)

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  392
  °C
  737.6 °F 665.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /
US (according to NFPA for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  287
  °C
  548.6 °F 560.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /

Odor

Faintly disagreeable

Metals

Aluminium

Satisfactory
Brass

Satisfactory
Monel

Satisfactory
Copper

Satisfactory
Ferritic Steel

Satisfactory
Stainless steel

Satisfactory
Zinc

Satisfactory
Titanium

No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride

Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride

Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polycarbonate

Not recommended
Polyamide

Satisfactory
Polypropylene

Satisfactory

Elastomers

Buthyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber

Not recommended
significant swelling
Nitrile rubber NBR

Satisfactory
Chloroprene

Satisfactory
Silicone

Not recommended
significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material
Perfluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Neoprene

Satisfactory
Polyurethane

Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene

Not recommended
significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant

Not recommended
significant loss of mass
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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C₄H₁₀

n-Butane

Learn More

General information

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.