CH3CH3

Ethane, with the chemical formula CH3CH3, is the second simplest alkane, following methane. It is a colorless, odorless gas at standard temperature and pressure. Ethane is a saturated hydrocarbon, meaning its carbon atoms are bonded to each other and to hydrogen atoms by single bonds. This structure gives it a relatively stable chemical nature.

Ethane is a significant component of natural gas, typically making up about 10% of its volume, though this can vary. It is also found in small amounts in petroleum. The primary industrial use of ethane is as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry. It can be cracked, a process involving high temperatures, to produce ethylene (C2H4), which is a crucial building block for plastics like polyethylene. Ethane can also be used as a refrigerant and as a fuel, though its use as a fuel is less common than that of methane.

The molecule consists of two methyl groups (CH3) linked by a carbon-carbon single bond. Each carbon atom is sp3 hybridized, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry around each carbon. The C-C bond length is approximately 154 picometers, and the C-H bond length is about 109 picometers. The ethane molecule exhibits free rotation around the C-C single bond, leading to different conformations such as the staggered and eclipsed forms, with the staggered conformation being more stable due to reduced steric hindrance. Ethane is nonpolar and therefore has low solubility in water but is soluble in organic solvents.