Ethane

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Ethane

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C₂H₆

Ethane

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

30.069
g/mol
Content in dry air

/

Critical Point

Temperature

32.17
°C
89.906 °F 305.32 K
Pressure

48.72
bar
4.872E6 pa 706.6236 lbf/in2 48.0829 Atm 4872 Kpa 3.6543E4 mmHg
Density

206.66
kg/m³
12.9013 lb/ft³

Triple Point

Temperature

- 182.78
°C
- 297.004 °F 90.37 K
Pressure

1.13E-5
bar
1.13 pa 1.6389E-4 lbf/in2 1.1152E-5 Atm 1.13E-3 Kpa 8.4757E-3 mmHg

Pressure 1.013 bar

Melting point

- 183.3
°C
- 297.94 °F 89.85 K
Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)

95.081
kJ/kg
40.9049 Btu/lb 22.7249 kcal/kg
Solid density

/

Pressure 1.013 bar

Liquid density (at boiling point)

543.83
kg/m³
33.9501 lb/ft³
Boiling point

- 88.58
°C
- 127.444 °F 184.57 K
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)

489.4
kJ/kg
210.5453 Btu/lb 116.9694 kcal/kg

Pressure1.013barTemperature

Compressibility factor Z

9.9005E-1

9.9156E-1

9.924E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ

1.2093

1.1998

1.1939
Dynamic viscosity

8.6129E-5
Po
8.6129 µPa.s 8.6129E-6 PA.S 5.7876E-6 lb/ft/s

9.0594E-5
Po
9.0594 µPa.s 9.0594E-6 PA.S 6.0877E-6 lb/ft/s

9.3541E-5
Po
9.3541 µPa.s 9.3541E-6 PA.S 6.2857E-6 lb/ft/s
Gas density at boiling point

2.054
kg/m³
1.2823E-1 lb/ft³

2.054
kg/m³
1.2823E-1 lb/ft³

2.054
kg/m³
1.2823E-1 lb/ft³
Gas density

1.3547
kg/m³
8.4571E-2 lb/ft³

1.2822
kg/m³
8.0045E-2 lb/ft³

1.2381
kg/m³
7.7292E-2 lb/ft³
Heat capacity at constant pressure Cp

1.6635
kJ/(kg.K)
3.9759E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1663.507 J/kg∙K 3.9759E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.7188
kJ/(kg.K)
4.1081E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1718.813 J/kg∙K 4.1081E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.7572
kJ/(kg.K)
4.1997E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1757.159 J/kg∙K 4.1997E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Heat capacity at constant volume Cv

1.3756
kJ/(kg.K)
3.2878E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1375.603 J/kg∙K 3.2878E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.4325
kJ/(kg.K)
3.4239E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1432.538 J/kg∙K 3.4239E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.4718
kJ/(kg.K)
3.5177E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1471.8 J/kg∙K 3.5177E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Liquid (at boiling point)/gas equivalent

401.44
mol/mol

424.14
mol/mol

439.25
mol/mol
Solubility in water

/

4.556E-5
mol/mol

3.401E-5
mol/mol
Specific gravity

1.05

1.05

1.05
Specific volume

7.382E-1
m³/kg
11.8248 ft³/lb

7.799E-1
m³/kg
12.4928 ft³/lb

8.077E-1
m³/kg
12.9381 ft³/lb
Thermal conductivity

17.961
mW/m∙K
1.0385E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.5454E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 4.2928E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.7961E-2 W/(m∙K)

19.741
mW/m∙K
1.1414E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.6986E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 4.7182E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.9741E-2 W/(m∙K)

20.984
mW/m∙K
1.2132E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.8055E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 5.0153E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 2.0984E-2 W/(m∙K)
Vapor pressure

23.8803
bar
2.388E6 pa 346.3543 lbf/in2 23.568 Atm 2388.03 Kpa 1.7912E4 mmHg

33.7746
bar
3.3775E6 pa 489.859 lbf/in2 33.3329 Atm 3377.46 Kpa 2.5333E4 mmHg

41.8744
bar
4.1874E6 pa 607.3366 lbf/in2 41.3268 Atm 4187.44 Kpa 3.1408E4 mmHg

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C₂H₆

Ethane

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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C₂H₆

Ethane

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Chemicals

Ethane is used in the production of organic synthesis intermediates, e.g. ethylene chloride is produced from ethane by the chlorination process.

Chemicals

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C₂H₆

Ethane

Safety & Compatibility

Information to safely use this molecule

Major hazards
Material compatibility

Safety

GHS02

Flammable
GHS04

Gas under pressure

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
  
  515
  °C
  959 °F 788.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /
US (according to NFPA for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  472
  °C
  881.6 °F 745.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /

Odor

none

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

No data
Polyamide

Satisfactory
Polypropylene

Satisfactory

Elastomers

Buthyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber

Not recommended
significant loss of mass
Nitrile rubber NBR

Satisfactory
Chloroprene

Not recommended
significant loss of mass
Silicone

Not recommended
significant loss of mass
Perfluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Neoprene

Satisfactory
Polyurethane

Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene

Not recommended
significant swelling

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory
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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C₂H₆

Ethane

Learn More

General information

More information

Ethane was first discovered by Michael Faraday in 1834, when he electrolyzed a solution of potassium acetate. The name has been derived from "ether", which comes from Latin "aether" and Greek "aithēr", meaning "upper air."