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>[http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=alkane%20series Wordnet Search 3.1]. ''Word Net Web''. Web. Accessed 27 February 2013. Unknown Author.</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. <ref>[http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-butane.htm What is Butane?]. ''Wise Geek''. Web. Last Modified on 17 February 2013. Pollick, Michael.</ref> Butane is also known as a paraffin gas, which once again, means that it is a hydrocarbon.<ref>[http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/paraffin Paraffin]. ''The Free Dictionary''. Web. Published in 2007. Unknown Author.</ref> The classification of being a paraffin gas means that butane's flame can resemble a candle's flame. This can be observed when butane is compressed into a cigarette lighter and ignited.