Propane

C₃H₈
CAS Number 74-98-6
UN1978 (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 - 114.4 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 44.096 g/mol
- Content in dry air /
Critical Point
- Temperature 96.68 °C
- Pressure 42.48 bar
- Density 220.48 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -187.62 °C
- Pressure 1.7E-9 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	79.917 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 187.68 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 42.11 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	425.59 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	580.88 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.7853E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1504
Gas density (at boiling point)	2.416 kg/m³
Gas density	2.01 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	289 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.5841 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.377 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	1.55
Specific volume	4.975E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	15.65 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	4.749 bar
Viscosity	7.4692E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.8194E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1416
Gas density	1.8988 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	305.92 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.6435 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.4396 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	3.813E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.55
Specific volume	5.267E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	17.224 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	7.3239 bar
Viscosity	7.8764E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.8381E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.1364
Gas density	1.8316 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	317.14 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.6847 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.4825 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	2.732E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	1.55
Specific volume	5.46E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	18.31 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	9.5326 bar
Viscosity	8.1463E-5 Po

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Laboratories & Research Centers

Propane is used in calibration for environmental emission monitoring, industrial hygiene monitors and trace impurity analyzers, particularly for total hydrocarbons measurements (THC).

Metal fabrication

Propane is used in oxycutting.

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)	459 °C
Lower flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	1.7 vol%
Upper flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	10.8 vol%

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

Autoignition temperature (NFPA 325)	450 °C
Lower flammability limit (NFPA 325)	2.1 vol%
Upper flammability limit (NFPA 325)	9.5 vol%

Threshold of toxicity

PEL USA OSHA (vol)

1000 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	Significant swelling Not recommended
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 modification of the mechanical properties Not recommended
Perfluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Significant swelling Not recommended
Ethylene-Propylene	significant swelling and modification of the mechanical properties 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

Propane was first identified as a volatile component in gasoline by Walter O. Snelling in 1910. The "prop-" root found in "propane" and names of other compounds with three-carbon chains was derived from "propionic acid".