ethane

ethane
/eth"ayn/, n. Chem.
a colorless, odorless, flammable gas, C2H6, of the methane series, present in natural gas, illuminating gas, and crude petroleum: used chiefly in organic synthesis and as a fuel gas. Also called dimethyl.
[1870-75; ETH(YL) + -ANE]

* * *

  a colourless, odourless, gaseous hydrocarbon (compound of hydrogen and carbon), belonging to the paraffin series; its chemical formula is C2H6. Ethane is structurally the simplest hydrocarbon that contains a single carbon–carbon bond. The second most important constituent of natural gas, it also occurs dissolved in petroleum oils and as a by-product of oil refinery operations and of the carbonization of coal.

      The industrial importance of ethane is based upon the ease with which it may be converted to ethylene (C2H4) and hydrogen by pyrolysis, or cracking, when passed through hot tubes. Like propane and, to a lesser extent, butane, ethane is a major raw material for the huge ethylene petrochemical industry, which produces such important products as polyethylene plastic, ethylene glycol, and ethyl alcohol.

      More than 90 percent of the ethane produced in the 1960s was burned as fuel without separation from natural gas. Ethane gas can be liquefied under pressure or at reduced temperatures and thus be separated from natural gas. Unlike propane, liquid ethane is not in common use as an industrial or domestic fuel.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Éthane — Éthane …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ethane — Éthane Éthane Représentations de l éthane Général …   Wikipédia en Français

  • éthane — [ etan ] n. m. • 1880; de éthyle ♦ Gaz combustible (C2H6), deuxième de la série des hydrocarbures saturés. L éthane est un des constituants du gaz naturel. ● éthane nom masculin (de éthyle) Hydrocarbure saturéCH3―CH3. (Gaz liquéfiable à − 84 °C,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • ETHANE — is a mnemonic indicating a protocol used by emergency services to report situations which they may be faced with, especially as it relates to major incidents [http://www.leslp.gov.uk/firstoff.htm] [www.wsh.nhs.uk/… …   Wikipedia

  • ethane — eth ane ([e^]th [=a]n), n. [From {Ether}.] (Chem.) A gaseous hydrocarbon, {C2H6}, forming a constituent of ordinary illuminating gas. It is the second member of the paraffin series, and its most important derivatives are common alcohol (ethyl… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ethane — 1873, from ETHYL (Cf. ethyl) + ANE (Cf. ane) …   Etymology dictionary

  • ethane — ► NOUN Chemistry ▪ a flammable hydrocarbon gas of the alkane series, present in petroleum and natural gas. ORIGIN from ETHER(Cf. ↑etheric) …   English terms dictionary

  • ethane — [eth′ān΄; ] Brit usually [ ē′thān΄] n. [ ETH(YL) + ANE] an odorless, colorless, gaseous alkane, CH3CH3, found in natural gas and used as a refrigerant and in fuel mixtures …   English World dictionary

  • Ethane — This article is about the chemical compound. For the emergency service protocol, see ETHANE. Ethane …   Wikipedia

  • ethane — etanas statusas T sritis chemija formulė CH₃CH₃ atitikmenys: angl. ethane rus. этан …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”