Propane

Not to be confused with propene or propyne.
Propane
Skeletal formula of propane
Skeletal formula of propane
Skeletal formula of propane with all implicit carbons shown, and all explicit hydrogens added
Skeletal formula of propane with all implicit carbons shown, and all explicit hydrogens added
Ball and stick model of propane
Ball and stick model of propane
Spacefill model of propane
Spacefill model of propane
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Propane[1]
Systematic IUPAC name
Tricarbane (never recommended[1])
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
1730718
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.753 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 200-827-9
E number E944 (glazing agents, ...)
25044
KEGG
RTECS number
  • TX2275000
UNII
UN number 1978
  • InChI=1S/C3H8/c1-3-2/h3H2,1-2H3 checkY
    Key: ATUOYWHBWRKTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • CCC
Properties[3]
C3H8
Molar mass 44.097 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless gas
Odor Odorless
Density 2.0098 kg/m3 (at 0 °C, 101.3 kPa)
Melting point −187.7 °C; −305.8 °F; 85.5 K
Boiling point −42.25 to −42.04 °C; −44.05 to −43.67 °F; 230.90 to 231.11 K
Critical point (T, P) 370 K (97 °C; 206 °F), 4.23 MPa (41.7 atm)
47 mg⋅L−1 (at 0 °C)
log P 2.236
Vapor pressure 853.16 kPa (at 21.1 °C (70.0 °F))
15 nmol⋅Pa−1⋅kg−1
Conjugate acid Propanium
−40.5 × 10−6 cm3/mol
0.083 D[2]
Thermochemistry
73.60 J⋅K−1⋅mol−1
−105.2–104.2 kJ⋅mol−1
−2.2197–2.2187 MJ⋅mol−1
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: Flammable
Danger
H220
P210
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g. propaneInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
4
0
Flash point −104 °C (−155 °F; 169 K)
470 °C (878 °F; 743 K)
Explosive limits 2.37–9.5%
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 1,000 ppm (1,800 mg/m3)[4]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 1,000 ppm (1,800 mg/m3)[4]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 2,100 ppm[4]
Related compounds
Related alkanes
Related compounds
Supplementary data page
Propane (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
A 20 lb (9.1 kg) steel propane cylinder. This cylinder is fitted with an overfill prevention device (OPD) valve, as evidenced by the trilobular handwheel.

Propane (/ˈproʊpeɪn/) is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is often a constituent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is commonly used as a fuel in domestic and industrial applications and in low-emissions public transportation; other constituents of LPG may include propylene, butane, butylene, butadiene, and isobutylene. Discovered in 1857 by the French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, it became commercially available in the US by 1911. Propane has lower volumetric energy density than gasoline or coal, but has higher gravimetric energy density than them and burns more cleanly.[6]

Propane gas has become a popular choice for barbecues and portable stoves because its low −42 °C boiling point makes it vaporise inside pressurised liquid containers (it exists in two phases, vapor above liquid). It retains its ability to vaporise even in cold weather, making it better-suited for outdoor use in cold climates than alternatives with higher boiling points like butane.[7] LPG powers buses, forklifts, automobiles, outboard boat motors, and ice resurfacing machines, and is used for heat and cooking in recreational vehicles and campers. Propane is becoming popular as a replacement refrigerant (R290) for heatpumps also as it offers greater efficiency than the current refrigerants: R410A / R32, higher temperature heat output and less damage to the atmosphere for escaped gasses - at the expense of high gas flammability.[8]

  1. ^ a b "General Principles, Rules, and Conventions". Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. P-12.1. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-00001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4. Similarly, the retained names 'ethane', 'propane', and 'butane' were never replaced by systematic names 'dicarbane', 'tricarbane', and 'tetracarbane' as recommended for analogues of silane, 'disilane'; phosphane, 'triphosphane'; and sulfane, 'tetrasulfane'.
  2. ^ Lide, David R. Jr. (1960). "Microwave Spectrum, Structure, and Dipole Moment of Propane". J. Chem. Phys. 33 (5): 1514–1518. Bibcode:1960JChPh..33.1514L. doi:10.1063/1.1731434.
  3. ^ Record of Propane in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  4. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0524". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  5. ^ "PROPANE – CAMEO Chemicals – NOAA". cameochemicals.noaa.gov. NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, US GOV.
  6. ^ "Fuels". www.globalfueleconomy.org. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  7. ^ "The difference between butane and propane". Calor Gas News and Views. Calor Gas Ltd UK.
  8. ^ "Propane". vasa.org.au. Retrieved 2024-05-11.