Ethane

Ethane
IUPAC name	Ethane
Identifiers
CAS number	74-84-0
PubChem	6324
EC number	200-814-8
MeSH	Ethane
ChEBI	CHEBI:42266
RTECS number	KH3800000
SMILES	CC
Beilstein Reference	1730716
Properties
Molecular formula	C2H6
Molar mass	30.07 g mol-1
Appearance	Colorless gas
Odor	Odorless
Density	1.3562 mg cm−3 (at 0 °C) 0.5446 g cm−3 (at 184 K)
Melting point	-183 °C, 90.4 K, -297 °F
Boiling point	-89 °C, 184.6 K, -127 °F
Solubility in water	56.8 mg L−1
Vapor pressure	3.8453 MPa (at 21.1 °C)
kH	19 nmol Pa−1 kg−1
Acidity (pKa)	50
Basicity (pKb)	-36
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
MSDS	inchem.org
EU classification	F+
EU Index	601-002-00-X
NFPA 704	4 1 0
Flash point	−135 °C
Autoignition temperature	472 °C
Explosive limits	2.9–13%
Related compounds
Related alkanes	Methane Methyl iodide Diiodomethane Iodoform Carbon tetraiodide Ethyl iodide Propane n-Propyl iodide Isopropyl iodide
Related compounds	Guanidine Diiodohydroxypropane
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Its main use is in the chemical industry, in producing ethylene by steam cracking. At room temperature, the gas is flammable, and it explodes when mixed with air. When ethane is at a liquid state, touching it will result with a very serious frostbite.