Propane

Purity of propane: 98.5%

Chemical formula: C3H8

Molecular weight: 44.096

CAS accession No.: 74-98-6

Water solubility: insoluble

External appearance: colorless gas

Safety Description: S2-S9-S16

Like other alkanes, propane can burn in sufficient oxygen to produce water and carbon dioxide.

C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O + heat

When oxygen is insufficient, water and carbon monoxide are produced.

2C3H8 + 7O2 → 6CO + 8H2O + heat

Unlike natural gas, propane is heavier than air (about 1.5 times that of air). In the natural state, propane will fall and accumulate near the surface. Under normal pressure, liquid propane will quickly turn into steam and turn white due to the condensation of water in the air. A cubic foot of propane, if fully burned, can release 2500 BTU of heat (91600 BTU per liquid gallon). In the SI system of units, the high calorific value of one cubic meter of propane is 50 kJ (≈ 13.8 KWH) or 101 MJ / m3.

Propane is non-toxic under standard conditions, but if it is abused as an inhalant, there is a certain risk of suffocation due to lack of oxygen. It is also worth noting that commercial products often contain other hydrocarbons that may cause danger. Under normal pressure, propane and its mixture volatilize rapidly, which can cause frostbite. When the outside temperature is 20 ℃, the propane liquid still maintains a low temperature of - 42 ℃.

The combustion of LPG is cleaner than that of gasoline, but slightly inferior to that of natural gas. Due to the C-C single bond and the double bond in propylene and butene, the combustion of LPG usually produces organic exhaust gases other than carbon dioxide and water. It is also the reason for these bonds that there is a visible flame in the combustion of LPG.