etano

Etano, known in English as ethane, is a hydrocarbon and the second simplest alkane, with two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms (C2H6). It is a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature and standard pressure, with a boiling point of -88.6°C and a melting point of about -182.8°C. Ethane is nonpolar and only sparingly soluble in water, though it dissolves in many organic solvents.

Ethane occurs naturally in natural gas and, to a lesser extent, in crude oil. It is separated and recovered during natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Commercially, ethane is produced primarily as a feedstock for ethylene production through steam cracking, after which ethylene becomes a foundational building block for a wide range of polymers and chemicals, including polyethylene.

In industry, the main use of ethane is as a feedstock for ethylene manufacture. It has also been used historically as a fuel or refrigerant in certain applications, though these uses are far less common today. The compound is highly flammable, forms explosive mixtures with air, and should be handled with proper ventilation and safety precautions to prevent accumulation in low-lying areas.

See also: ethene, natural gas, petrochemical industry.