Ethane is an alkane with the chemical formula C2H6. As a hydrocarbon, it can undergo hydrocarbon combustion which gives off heat. Ethane is one of the hydrocarbon components of natural gas, which is a type of fossil fuel.[2] In its purest form, ethane is a colourless, odourless substance. This gas is often put under enough pressure to turn into a liquid.
Below is a table of some basic properties of ethane.
Chemical formula | C2H6 |
Molar mass | 30.1 grams/mole |
Energy density | 53.2 MJ/kg [3] |
Melting Point | -183oC[4] |
Boiling Point | -89oC[4] |
Ethane undergoes hydrocarbon combustion, combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. The balanced chemical equation for the complete combustion of ethane is:[5]
The hydrocarbon combustion reaction releases heat energy and is an example of an exothermic reaction. The reaction also has a negative enthalpy change (ΔH) value.
Semaa Amin, Ethan Boechler, Jordan Hanania, Kailyn Stenhouse, Daniel Suchet, Jason Donev
Last updated: September 27, 2021
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