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pentane

Did you mean: pentane, pentane, Pentane (data page)

 
Dictionary: pen·tane   (pĕn'tān') pronunciation
n.

Any of three colorless, flammable isomeric hydrocarbons, C5H12, derived from petroleum and used as solvents.


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Pentane
Skeletal formula of pentane
Pentane-3D-space-filling.png
IUPAC name
Other names n-pentane
amyl hydride
Skellysolve A
Identifiers
CAS number 109-66-0 Yes check.svgY
PubChem 8003
RTECS number RZ9450000
SMILES
InChI
ChemSpider ID 7712
Properties
Molecular formula C5H12
Molar mass 72.15 g/mol
Appearance Colourless liquid
Density 0.626 g/cm³, liquid
Melting point

−129.8 °C (143 K)

Boiling point

36.1 °C (308 K)

Solubility in water 0.004 g/100 mL (20 °C)[1]
Acidity (pKa) ~45
Viscosity 0.240 cP at 20 °C
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
R/S statement R: R12, R51/53, R65,
R66, R67
S: (S2), S9, S16,
S29, S33, S61, S62
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
4
1
0
 
Flash point −49 °C
Related compounds
Related alkanes Butane, Isopentane,
Neopentane, Hexane
Related compounds Cyclopentane
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
 Yes check.svgY (what is this?)  (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Pentane is any or one of the organic compounds with the formula C5H12. This alkane is a component of some fuels and is employed as a specialty solvent in the laboratory. Its properties are very similar to those of butane and hexane. It exists in three structural isomers, the branched isomers are called isopentane and neopentane.

pentane isopentane neopentane
Pentane-2D-Skeletal.svg Isopentane-2D-skeletal.png Neopentane-2D-skeletal.png

The branched isomers are more stable. That is, they have lower heat of formation and heat of combustion. Isopentane is more stable than pentane by 1.8 kcal/mol, and neopentane by 5 kcal/mol.[2] Rotation about two central single C-C bonds produces four different conformations.[3]

Contents

Laboratory use

As the most volatile hydrocarbon that is liquid at room temperature, pentane is often used in the laboratory as a solvent that can be conveniently evaporated. Also because of its nonpolarity and lack of functionality, its dissolving power is poor, thus only non-polar and alkyl-rich compounds are soluble in it. Pentane is miscible, however, with most common nonpolar solvents such as chlorocarbons, aromatics, and ethers.

One of its applications as a laboratory solvent is in liquid chromatography.

Reactions

Pentane burns to form carbon dioxide and water:

C5H12 + 8 O2 → 5 CO2 + 6 H2O

As with other hydrocarbons, pentane undergoes free radical chlorination:

C5H12 + Cl2 → C5H11Cl + HCl

Such reactions are unselective, yielding a mixture of the 1-, 2-, and 3-chloropentanes, as well as more highly chlorinated derivatives. Other radical halogenations can also occur.

While n-butane is the conventional feedstock in the production of maleic anhydride, pentane is also a substrate:

CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 + 5 O2 → C2H2(CO)2O + 5 H2O + CO2

Industrial Uses

Pentane is one of the primary blowing agents used in the production of polystyrene foam.

Pentane is used as a working medium in geothermal power stations.

References

  1. ^ BIA GESTIS - Stoffdatenbank
  2. ^ From the values listed at Standard enthalpy change of formation (data table).
  3. ^ Roman M. Balabin (2009). "Enthalpy Difference between Conformations of Normal Alkanes: Raman Spectroscopy Study of n-Pentane and n-Butane". J. Phys. Chem. A 113 (6): 1012. doi:10.1021/jp809639s. 

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Did you mean: pentane, pentane, Pentane (data page)

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pentane" Read more