Butane: Difference between revisions

Butane is a hydrocarbon with a formula of C₄H₁₀, which means it contains 4 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms. This gas is considered an alkane, which means it is a member of the alkanine series, a grouping of ". . .non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbons." <ref> Unknown Author. [http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alkane%20series Wordnet Search 3.1]. ''Word Net Web''. Web. Accessed 27 February 2013.</ref> To put it simply, the alkanine series contains hydrocarbons with only one carbon-carbon bond. Butane's more closely related alkanes are propane, isobutane, and pentane. Butane is of low molecular weight and appears as a colorless gas. It has a molar mass of 58.12 grams per mole, and has a density of 0.579 grams per milliliter. This gas has a melting point of -138 degrees Celsius and a boiling point of 0 degrees Celsius. It is highly combustible and flammable when it is released into the air, and is prone to creating explosions or flash fires. When it is in a compressed liquid form, butane has the potential to cause frostbite or freezeburn when touched. This gas has the ability to become a liquid rapidly when placed into a compressed container, like the orange canisters it is often transported in. Though butane is one of many different types of natural gas, it is one of the few that only releases carbon dioxide as a useless byproduct, instead of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas.

Butane occurs in crude petroleum and more commonly in natural gas. Because of this, butane is known as an NGL, which stands for "natural gas liquid." NGLs are byproducts of natural gas processing. Natural gas processing isolates the pure natural gas by removing all of the assorted hydrocarbons and fluids. It is a complex four-step process, which begins with the removal of oil and condensate, then water removal, glycol dehydration, and finally ends with solid-desiccant dehydration. The isolation of butane occurs during this procedure. After the NGLs are separated from the natural gas, they must undergo fractionation. This process sorts out the individual components in the NGL stream. This process involves the Deethanizer, which isolates the ethane, Depropanizer, which isolates the propane, Debutanizer, which separates the butane via boiling, and Deisobutanizer, which separates the normal butanes from the iso. Each of these processes are necessary to produce butane, and more importantly, the dry natural gas that can be transported through pipelines and be used commercially. <ref> Unknown Author. [http://www.naturalgas.org/naturalgas/processing_ng.asp Natural Gas Processing]. ''Natural Gas''. Web. Accessed 27 February 2013.</ref>

Butane has a wide variety of uses, the most common of which can be found in the cigarette lighter. Butane serves as fuel for both the disposable and refillable lighter. Butane is used in this item for its high flammability and its low cost to produce. The butane torch is another item that takes advantage of its flammable properties. The butane torch is most commonly used for craft projects, glass making, certain plumbing projects that need heat and caramelizing desserts in the kitchen. Campers can make use of butane while using portable grills. In these cases, the butane is stored in a gas canisters. Cordless hair straighteners or irons make use of butane gas canisters as well. Propane and other substances can combine with butane to form liquified petroleum gas, otherwise known as LPG. LPG is found in the manufacturing of petrochemicals, which are used in various heating appliances, in fuel for vehicles, and can be used in aerosol cans. In its purest state, butane is used as refrigerants and can be used for calibrating instruments. Butane has replaced the use of methane derivatives in household refrigerators due to the risk methane places on the ozone layer. Surprisingly, adding butane to gasoline does not increase the gasoline's flammability, but enhances its quality and performance. This hydrocarbon is also used as a food additive <ref> Unknown Author. [http://wanttoknowit.com/uses-of-butane Uses of Butane]. ''Want to Know It''. Web. Accessed 26 February 2013.</ref>

Humans have an insatiable need for energy. We need it for cooking food, for staying warm, for entertainment, for production of materials, for transportation, for electricity, and much more. This enormous demand for energy initiated the search for alternative means to obtain it. Thus, natural energy was introduced. Presently, the energy gained from the use of natural gas ". . .accounts for 24 percent of total energy consumed in the United States, making it a vital component of the nation's energy supply," <ref>Unknown Author. [http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/uses.asp Uses of Natural Gas]. ''Natural Gas''. Web. Published 2002.</ref> according to the Energy Information Administration. The significance of natural energy increased as the world realized its potential. Nowadays, natural gas is mainly used in the industrial sector, and secondly used in residential areas. Of course, the uses of natural gas are not limited to just these two sectors, but can be found in every area of modern living.  

After it is removed of all impurities natural gas practically runs the world. <ref> Unknown Author. [http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Natural_gas Natural Gas]. ''New World Encyclopedia''. Web. Published 9 March 2009.</ref>