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[Chemical Knowledge]：Butane and n-Butane: Two Important Members of the Alkane World

Read： 936 Time：17months ago Source：Transform the World with Simplicity

In the petrochemical industry, alkanes are an important class of chemicals, which are widely used in production and daily life because of their simple and stable structure. This article will focus on two special members of alkanes: butane and n-butane.

butane and n-butane are isomers, their molecular formula is the same, are C4H10. However, their structure is different. Butane is composed of four carbon atoms connected by single bonds, and the molecule contains a butyl group (-CH2CH2CH3). In the butane molecule, there is free rotation between the carbon atoms, so it is a chain-like structure. Butane is also composed of four carbon atoms, but its carbon atoms are connected by a straight chain, and the molecule contains an n-butyl group (-CH2CH2CH2CH3). Unlike butane, there is no free rotation between carbon atoms in n-butane, so it is a linear structure.

Due to the difference in structure, butane and n-butane are different in physical and chemical properties. At room temperature, butane is gaseous and is a colorless and odorless gas with a melting point of -138.3 ℃ and a boiling point of -0.5 ℃. Butane is liquid, colorless and tasteless, melting point of -160.8 ℃, boiling point of 0.9 ℃. The densities of butane and n-butane also differ, with butane having a density of 0.6013g/cm³ and n-butane having a density of 0.5734g/cm³. In addition, the heat of vaporization of butane is smaller and lower than that of n-butane.

Since butane and n-butane have a stable structure, they are widely used in the chemical field. Butane is commonly used in gaseous fuels, such as fuel tanks for cookers. It is also used as a solvent, detergent, spray and refrigerant. In the cosmetics industry, butane is also one of the common ingredients, used to make spray perfume and hair spray. n-Butane is mainly used for the preparation of organic compounds such as ethanol, ethers and amino acids. Due to its linear molecular structure, n-butane has higher reactivity in some synthetic reactions.

In general, butane and n-butane are isomers, but their structures and properties are different. Butane is a chain structure, commonly used in gas fuels and solvents, etc.; n-butane is a linear structure, mainly used in the preparation of organic compounds. They all play an important role in the field of chemicals. For learners who are new to the alkane world, understanding the differences between these two common alkanes will help them to better understand and apply them.

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