Introduction
Name: ethane
* IUPAC
CAS Number: 74-84-0
Molar Mass: 30.06904 g
State of Matter: colorless gas
Mass Percent: C 79.887 %; H 20.112 %
Classification
Physical Properties
Melting Point:*
-182.8°C 1 = 90.35 K = -297.04°F
Boiling Point:*
-88°C 2 = 185.15 K = -126.4°F
-88.6°C 1 = 184.55 K = -127.48°F
Density (g/cm3):
0.5446 at -89°C 1
* - 1 atm pressure
Solubility
Qualitative:
slightly soluble: 2
soluble: • 2
very soluble: 2
Bonding

Double Bonds: 0
Triple Bonds: 0
Sigma Bonds: 7
Pi Bonds: 0
Total: 7
Carboxyl Groups: 0
Hydroxyl Groups: 0
Hybridization: all carbons are sp3
Bonding: polar covalent
Ionic Character: 10.61 %
Thermochemistry
CxHyOz + 0.25(4x+y-2z) O2 (g) → x CO2 (g) + 0.5y H2O (ℓ)
ΔHcomb° (g): -372.805 kcal = -1559.82584 kJ
Reactions
C2H4 (g ethylene) + 1 H2 (g) → C2H6 (g ethane) 6
2 C2H6 (g ethane) + 7 O2 (g) → 4 CO2 (g) + 6 H2O (ℓ) 6
Safety Information
NFPA 704 Ratings:
Health: 1 - Exposure would cause irritation with only minor residual injury.
Flammability: 4 - Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Includes pyrophoric substances. Flash point below 23°C (73°F).
Reactivity: 0 - Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water.
For More Information
Sources
(1) - Lide, David R. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 83rd ed.; CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 2002; p 3-152.
(2) - Estok, George K. Organic Chemistry: A Short Text; W.B. Saunders: Philadelphia, 1959; p 29.
(3) - Dean, John A. Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 12th ed.; McGraw-Hill Book Company: New York, NY, 1979; p 9:77
(4) - Dean, John A. Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 12th ed.; McGraw-Hill Book Company: New York, NY, 1979; p 9:77
(5) - Dean, John A. Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 12th ed.; McGraw-Hill Book Company: New York, NY, 1979; p 9:77
(6) - Ebbing, Darrell D. General Chemistry 3rd ed.; Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, MA, 1990; p 224.