Propane

Last updated: March 19, 2023

Propane is an organic compound with formula C₃H₈.

Table of contents

Names

List of substance names

Nomenclature

Name

Typical name: Propane

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Formula name

Formula

Typical formula: C₃H₈

Molecular formula: C₃H₈

Empirical formula: C₃H₈

Condensed formula: CH₃CH₂CH₃

Structural formula

Structural formula with no C–H bond

Skeletal formula

Skeletal formula with terminal carbon

Lewis structure

Colored Lewis structure

Properties

List of substance properties

Item

Value

Name: Propane

Formula: C₃H₈

Appearance: Colorless gas

Odor: Odorless

Molar mass: 44.097 g/mol

Density: 0.584 g/cm³^[1]
Liquid, -42°C; 0.493 g/cm³^[2]
Liquid, 25°C

Melting point: −188 °C^[1]; −187.62 °C^[2]

Boiling point: −42.1 °C^[1]; −42.11 °C^[2]

Flash point: −104 °C^[1]

Refractive index: 1.340^[1]
−42°C

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Atom	Name	Oxidation state	Number
C	Carbon	−3	2
C	Carbon	−2	1
H	Hydrogen	+1	8

Ratio of atoms

Atom	Atomic weight	Number	Atomic ratio	Weight ratio
C	12.011	3	27.27%	81.71%
H	1.008	8	72.73%	18.29%

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Item

Value

Enthalpy of fusion: 3.53 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1]
at −188°C; 3.50 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]
at -187.62°C

Enthalpy of vaporization: 19.0 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1]
at −42.1°C; 19.04 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]
at -42.11°C

Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C: 14.8 kJ · mol⁻¹^[1]; 14.79 kJ · mol⁻¹^[2]

Enthalpy of other transition: –

Standard thermodynamic properties

State	Standard enthalpy of formation Δ_fH° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard Gibbs energy of formation Δ_fG° kJ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar entropy S° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹	Standard molar heat capacity at constant pressure C_p° J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹
Liquid	–	–	–	98.3^[1]
Gas	−103.8^[1]	−23.4^[1]	270.2^[1]	73.6^[1]

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Reactive

Miscible

Very soluble: C₆H₆Benzene
CHCl₃Trichloromethane

Soluble: C₂H₅OC₂H₅Diethyl ether
C₂H₅OHEthanol

Slightly soluble

Very slightly soluble

Insoluble: H₂OWater

Solubility in benzene (mL/100 mL)^[1]

25°C
1450

Solubility in trichloromethane (mL/100 mL)^[1]

25°C
1300

Solubility in diethyl ether (mL/100 mL)^[1]

25°C
926

Solubility in ethanol (mL/100 mL)^[1]

25°C
790

Solubility in water (mL/100 mL)^[1]

25°C
6.5

Solubility curve (mL/100 mL)

Hazards

GHS label^[3]

Item

Value

Hazard pictograms: GHS02: Flame; GHS04: Gas cylinder; GHS07: Exclamation mark

Signal word: Danger

Hazard statements: H220: Extremely flammable gas; H280: Contains gas under pressure may explode if heated; H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness

Physical hazards^[3]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Explosives	Not applicable
Flammable gases	Category 1A flammable gas	Danger	H220: Extremely flammable gas
Aerosols	Not applicable
Oxidizing gases	Not classified
Gases under pressure	Liquefied gas	Warning	H280: Contains gas under pressure may explode if heated
Flammable liquids	Not applicable
Flammable solids	Not applicable
Self reactive substances and mixtures	Not applicable
Pyrophoric liquids	Not applicable
Pyrophoric solids	Not applicable
Self heating substances and mixtures	Not applicable
Substances and mixtures which in contact with water emit flammable gases	Not applicable
Oxidizing liquids	Not applicable
Oxidizing solids	Not applicable
Organic peroxides	Not applicable
Substances and mixtures corrosive to metals	Not classified
Desensitized explosives	No data

Health hazards^[3]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Acute oral toxicity	Not applicable
Acute dermal toxicity	Not applicable
Acute inhalation toxicity by gas	Not classified
Acute inhalation toxicity by vapor	Not applicable
Acute inhalation toxicity by dust or mist	Not applicable
Skin corrosion irritation	Not classified
Serious eye damage eye irritation	Classification not possible
Respiratory sensitization	Classification not possible
Skin sensitization	Classification not possible
Germ cell mutagenicity	Classification not possible
Carcinogenicity	Classification not possible
Reproductive toxicity	Classification not possible
Specific target organ toxicity single exposure	Category 3 (Narcotic effects)	Warning	H336: May cause drowsiness or dizziness
Specific target organ toxicity repeated exposure	Classification not possible
Aspiration hazard	Not applicable

Environmental hazards^[3]

Classification	Category	Label	Hazard statement
Hazardous to the aquatic environment short term	Classification not possible
Hazardous to the aquatic environment long term	Classification not possible
Hazardous to the ozone layer	No data

Preparations

Reaction of alkene and hydrogen

The reaction of propene and hydrogen yields propane.

Reaction of propene and hydrogen ◆ Δ_rG −86.2 kJ/mol K 1.26 × 10¹⁵ pK −15.10: C₃H₆Propene + H₂Hydrogen
Ni|Pd|Pt
⟶

C₃H₈Propane

Reaction of ketone/aldehyde and hydrazine

The reaction of ketone/aldehyde and hydrazine can yield propane.

Reaction of acetone and hydrazine ◆ Δ_rG −257.2 kJ/mol K 1.15 × 10⁴⁵ pK −45.06: CH₃COCH₃Acetone + N₂H₄Hydrazine
NaOH|KOH
⟶
🔥
C₃H₈↑Propane + N₂↑Nitrogen + H₂OWater

Reaction of propanal and hydrazine: C₂H₅CHOPropanal + N₂H₄Hydrazine
NaOH|KOH
⟶
🔥
C₃H₈↑Propane + N₂↑Nitrogen + H₂OWater

Reaction of ketone/aldehyde, zinc, and hydrogen ion

The reaction of ketone/aldehyde, zinc, and hydrogen ion can yield propane.

Reaction of acetone, zinc, and hydrogen ion ◆ Δ_rG −401.9 kJ/mol K 2.57 × 10⁷⁰ pK −70.41: CH₃COCH₃Acetone + 2ZnZinc + 4H⁺Hydrogen ion
Zn(Hg)
⟶

C₃H₈↑Propane + 2Zn²⁺Zinc ion + H₂OWater

Reaction of propanal, zinc, and hydrogen ion: C₂H₅CHOPropanal + 2ZnZinc + 4H⁺Hydrogen ion
Zn(Hg)
⟶

C₃H₈↑Propane + 2Zn²⁺Zinc ion + H₂OWater

Chemical reactions

Complete combustion of propane

Complete combustion of propane yields carbon dioxide and water.

Complete combustion of propane ◆ Δ_rG −2108.2 kJ/mol K 2.19 × 10³⁶⁹ pK −369.34: C₃H₈Propane + 5O₂Oxygen
⟶
3CO₂Carbon dioxide + 4H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of propane

Incomplete combustion of propane yields carbon monoxide and water.

Incomplete combustion of propane ◆ Δ_rG −2673.2 kJ/mol K 2.11 × 10⁴⁶⁸ pK −468.32: 2C₃H₈Propane + 7O₂Oxygen
⟶
6COCarbon monoxide + 8H₂OWater

Incomplete combustion of propane ◆ Δ_rG −925.1 kJ/mol K 1.18 × 10¹⁶² pK −162.07: C₃H₈Propane + 2O₂Oxygen
⟶
3CCarbon + 4H₂OWater

Reaction with halogen

The reaction of propane and chlorine yields 1-Chloropropane and hydrogen chloride.

Reaction of propane and chlorine: C₃H₈Propane + Cl₂Chlorine
⟶
C₃H₇Cl1-Chloropropane + HClHydrogen chloride

References

List of references

1
James G. Speight (2017)
Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 17th edition
https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781259586095
McGraw Hill Education
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 0.584 g/cm³ - p.657
- ^ Melting point, −188 °C - p.657
- ^ Boiling point, −42.1 °C - p.657
- ^ Flash point, −104°C - p.657
- ^ Refractive index, 1.340 (−42°C) - p.657
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 3.53 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.1016
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization, 19.0 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.1016
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C, 14.8 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.1016
- ^ C_p°, 98.3 J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ - p.981
- ^ Δ_fH°, -103.8 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.981
- ^ Δ_fG°, -23.4 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.981
- ^ S°, 270.2 J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ - p.981
- ^ C_p°, 73.6 J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ - p.981
- ^ Solubility in Benzene (mL/100 mL), See the table - p.657
- ^ Solubility in Trichloromethane (mL/100 mL), See the table - p.657
- ^ Solubility in Diethyl ether (mL/100 mL), See the table - p.657
- ^ Solubility in Ethanol (mL/100 mL), See the table - p.657
- ^ Solubility in Water (mL/100 mL), See the table - p.657
2
John R. Rumble Jr, David R. Lide, Thomas J. Bruno (2019)
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 100th Edition
https://www.routledge.com/CRC-Handbook-of-Chemistry-and-Physics/book-series/CRCHANCHEPHY
CRC Press
- Amazon
Citation list
- ^ Density, 0.493 g/cm³ - p.3-46
- ^ Melting point, −187.62 °C - p.3-46
- ^ Boiling point, −42.11 °C - p.3-46
- ^ Enthalpy of fusion, 3.50 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-160
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization, 19.04 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-149
- ^ Enthalpy of vaporization at 25°C, 14.79 kJ · mol⁻¹ - p.6-149
3
Chemical Management Center
GHS Classification Results
https://www.nite.go.jp/chem/english/ghs/all_fy_e.html
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Citation list

Δ_rG	−86.2 kJ/mol
K	1.26 × 10¹⁵
pK	−15.10

Δ_rG	−257.2 kJ/mol
K	1.15 × 10⁴⁵
pK	−45.06

Δ_rG	−401.9 kJ/mol
K	2.57 × 10⁷⁰
pK	−70.41

Δ_rG	−2108.2 kJ/mol
K	2.19 × 10³⁶⁹
pK	−369.34

Propane

Names

List of substance names

Formulae and structures

List of formulae

Properties

List of substance properties

Constituents

Constituent atoms

Ratio of atoms

Thermodynamic properties

Phase transition properties

Standard thermodynamic properties

Solubility

Qualitative solubility

Solubility in benzene (mL/100 mL)[1]

Solubility in trichloromethane (mL/100 mL)[1]

Solubility in diethyl ether (mL/100 mL)[1]

Solubility in ethanol (mL/100 mL)[1]

Solubility in water (mL/100 mL)[1]

Solubility curve (mL/100 mL)

Hazards

GHS label[3]

Physical hazards[3]

Health hazards[3]

Environmental hazards[3]

Preparations

Reaction of alkene and hydrogen

Reaction of ketone/aldehyde and hydrazine

Reaction of ketone/aldehyde, zinc, and hydrogen ion

Chemical reactions

Complete combustion of propane

Incomplete combustion of propane

Reaction with halogen

References

List of references

Related substances

Alkane

Related categories

Solubility in benzene (mL/100 mL)^[1]

Solubility in trichloromethane (mL/100 mL)^[1]

Solubility in diethyl ether (mL/100 mL)^[1]

Solubility in ethanol (mL/100 mL)^[1]

Solubility in water (mL/100 mL)^[1]

GHS label^[3]

Physical hazards^[3]

Health hazards^[3]

Environmental hazards^[3]