Ethane is an organic chemical compound with chemical formula C2H6.
Quick facts Names, Identifiers ...
Ethane
 Skeletal formula of ethane with all implicit hydrogens shown |
 Skeletal formula of ethane with all implicit carbons shown, and all explicit hydrogens added |
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 Ball and stick model of ethane |
 Spacefill model of ethane |
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| Names |
| Preferred IUPAC name
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Systematic IUPAC name
Dicarbane (never recommended [1]) |
| Identifiers |
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3D model (JSmol) |
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| Beilstein Reference |
1730716 |
| ChEBI |
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| ChEMBL |
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| ChemSpider |
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| ECHA InfoCard |
100.000.741 |
| EC Number |
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| Gmelin Reference |
212 |
| MeSH |
Ethane |
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII |
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| UN number |
1035 |
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| Properties |
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C2H6 |
| Molar mass |
30.07 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance |
Colorless gas |
| Odor |
Odorless |
| Density |
- 1.3562 kg/m−3 (gas at 0 °C)[2]
544.0 kg/m−3 (liquid at -88,5 °C)
206 kg/m−3 (at critical point 305.322 K) |
| Melting point |
−182.8 °C; −296.9 °F; 90.4 K |
| Boiling point |
−88.5 °C; −127.4 °F; 184.6 K |
|
56.8 mg L−1[3] |
| Vapor pressure |
3.8453 MPa (at 21.1 °C) |
| kH |
19 nmol Pa−1 kg−1 |
| Acidity (pKa) |
50 |
| Basicity (pKb) |
-36 |
| Conjugate acid |
Ethanium |
|
-37.37·10−6 cm3/mol |
| Thermochemistry |
Std enthalpy of
formation ΔfHo298 |
−84 kJ mol−1 |
Std enthalpy of
combustion ΔcHo298 |
−1561.0–−1560.4 kJ mol−1 |
| Specific heat capacity, C |
52.49 J K−1 mol−1 |
| Hazards |
| NFPA 704 |
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| Explosive limits |
2.9–13% |
| Related compounds |
| Related {{{label}}} |
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| Related compounds |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). |
| Y verify (what is YN ?) |
| Infobox references |
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Close
At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colourless, odorless gas. It is isolated from natural gas, and as a byproduct of petroleum refining.
Its main use is in the chemical industry, to make ethylene by steam cracking.
At room temperature, the gas is flammable, and it explodes when mixed with air. When ethane is liquid, touching it causes a very serious frostbite.
