Ethane

C₂H₆
CAS Number 74-84-0
UN1035 (gas)
UN1961 (refrigerated liquid)

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 - 72.01 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 30.069 g/mol
- Content in dry air /
Critical Point
- Temperature 32.17 °C
- Pressure 48.72 bar
- Density 206.66 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -182.78 °C
- Pressure 1.13E-5 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	95.081 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 183.3 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 88.58 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	489.4 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	543.83 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.9005E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2093
Gas density (at boiling point)	2.054 kg/m³
Gas density	1.3547 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	401.44 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.6635 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.3756 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	1.05
Specific volume	7.382E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	17.961 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	23.8803 bar
Viscosity	8.6129E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9156E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1998
Gas density	1.2822 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	424.14 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.7188 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.4325 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	4.556E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.05
Specific volume	7.799E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	19.741 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	33.7746 bar
Viscosity	9.0594E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.924E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1939
Gas density	1.2381 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	439.25 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.7572 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.4718 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	3.401E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.05
Specific volume	8.077E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	20.984 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	41.8744 bar
Viscosity	9.3541E-5 Po

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.

Safety & Compatibility

Major Hazards
Material Compatibility

GHS02

Flammable

GHS04

Gas under pressure

Autoignition Temperature, Flammability Limits & Flash Point

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

Autoignition temperature (Chemsafe)	515 °C
Lower flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	2.4 vol%
Upper flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	14.8 vol%

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

Autoignition temperature (NFPA 325)	472 °C
Lower flammability limit (NFPA 325)	3 vol%
Upper flammability limit (NFPA 325)	12.5 vol%

Odor

none

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	Significant swelling Not recommended
Chlorofluorocarbons	No data
Silicone	Significant swelling and significant loss of mass Not recommended
Perfluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene	significant swelling Not recommended

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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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."