Butane
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Butane is a gas with the formula C4H10 that is an alkane with four carbon atoms. The term may refer to either of two structural isomers, n-butane or isobutane (or "methylpropane"), or to a mixture of these isomers. In the IUPAC nomenclature, however, "butane" refers only to the n-butane isomer (which is the isomer with the unbranched structure). Butanes are highly flammable, colorless, easily liquefied gases. The name butane comes from the roots but- (from butyric acid) and -ane.
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Isomers
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| Common name | normal butane unbranched butane n-butane | isobutane i-butane |
| IUPAC name | butane | methylpropane |
| Molecular diagram | 150px | 120px |
| Skeletal diagram | 120px | 100px |
Rotation about the central C-C bond produces two different conformations (trans and gauche) for n-butane.[3]
ReactionsEdit
Template:Stack When oxygen is plentiful, butane burns to form carbon dioxide and water vapor; when oxygen is limited, carbon (soot) or carbon monoxide may also be formed.
- 2 C4H10 + 13 O2 → 8 CO2 + 10 H2O
The maximum adiabatic flame temperature of butane with air is 2243 K.
n-Butane is the feedstock for DuPont's catalytic process for the preparation of maleic anhydride:
- 2 CH3CH2CH2CH3 + 7 O2 → 2 C2H2(CO)2O + 8 H2O
n-Butane, like all hydrocarbons, undergoes free radical chlorination providing both 1-chloro- and 2-chlorobutanes, as well as more highly chlorinated derivatives. The relative rates of the chlorination is partially explained by the differing bond dissociation energies, 425 and 411 kJ/mol for the two types of C-H bonds. The two central carbon atoms have the slightly weaker C-H bonds.
UsesEdit
The most common use of butane is as lighter fuel for a common lighter or butane torch.
Added by Thenewguy34Butane gas is sold bottled as a fuel for cooking and camping. When blended with propane and other hydrocarbons, it is referred to commercially as LPG, for liquified petroleum gas. It is also used as a petrol component, as a feedstock for the production of base petrochemicals in steam cracking, as fuel for cigarette lighters and as a propellant in aerosol sprays such as deodorants.
Very pure forms of butane, especially isobutane, can be used as refrigerants and have largely replaced the ozone layer-depleting halomethanes, for instance in household refrigerators and freezers. The system operating pressure for butane is lower than for the halomethanes, such as R-12, so R-12 systems such as in automotive air conditioning systems, when converted to butane will not function optimally.
Cordless hair irons are usually powered by butane cartridges.[4]
Effects and health issuesEdit
Added by Thenewguy34Inhalation of butane can cause euphoria, drowsiness, narcosis, asphyxia, cardiac arrhythmia, temporary memory loss and frostbite, which can result in death from asphyxiation and ventricular fibrillation. Butane is the most commonly misused volatile substance in the UK, and was the cause of 52% of "solvent related" deaths in 2000.[5] By spraying butane directly into the throat, the jet of fluid can cool rapidly to −20 °C by expansion, causing prolonged laryngospasm.[6] "Sudden sniffer's death" syndrome, first described by Bass in 1970,[7] is the most common single cause of "solvent related" death, resulting in 55% of known fatal cases.[6]
The paper "Emission of nitrogen dioxide from butane gas heaters and stoves indoors", from the American Journal of Applied Sciences, indicates that nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas, results from burning butane gas, and represents a human health hazard from home heaters and stoves.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ butane - Compound Summary. PubChem Compound. National Center for Biotechnology Information (16 September 2004). Retrieved on 11 December 2011.
- ↑ Safety Data Sheet, Material Name: N-Butane (PDF). Matheson Tri-Gas Incorporated (5 February 2011). Retrieved on 11 December 2011.
- ↑ Roman M. Balabin (2009). "Enthalpy Difference between Conformations of Normal Alkanes: Raman Spectroscopy Study of n-Pentane and n-Butane". J. Phys. Chem. A 113 (6): 1012. DOI:10.1021/jp809639s.
- ↑ FAA: Hazardous Materials p. 4
- ↑ Trends in death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971–2004 Field-Smith M, Bland JM, Taylor JC, et al., Department of Public Health Sciences. London: St George’s Medical School
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ramsey J, Anderson HR, Bloor K, et al. An introduction to the practice, prevalence and chemical toxicology of volatile substance abuse. Hum Toxicol 1989;8:261–269
- ↑ Bass M. Sudden sniffing death. JAMA 1970;212:2075–2079
External linksEdit
- International Chemical Safety Card 0232
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- n-Butane Molecule of the Month
- World LP Gas Association (WLPGA)
- UKLPG Propane and Butane in the UK
- Global BioSciences In-Situ Bioremediation utilizing Butane
E numbers
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| Colours (E100-199) • Preservatives (E200-299) • Antioxidants & Acidity regulators (E300-399) • Thickeners, stabilisers & emulsifiers (E400-499) • pH regulators & anti-caking agents (E500-599) • Flavour enhancers (E600-699) • Miscellaneous (E900-999) • Additional chemicals (E1100-1599) | ||
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| Waxes (E900-909) • Synthetic glazes (E910-919) • Improving agents (E920-929) • Packaging gases (E930-949) • Sweeteners (E950-969) • Foaming agents (E990-999) | ||
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| Argon (E938) • Helium (E939) • Dichlorodifluoromethane (E940) • Nitrogen (E941) • Nitrous oxide (E942) • Butane (E943a) • Isobutane (E943b) • Propane (E944) • Oxygen (E948) • Hydrogen (E949) | ||
| This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Butane. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Chemistry, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
