Organic Chemistry/Alkanes/Ethane

Ethane << Methane | Propane thru decane >> Ethane (/ˈɛθeɪn/ or /ˈiːθeɪn/) is a chemical compound, or hydrocarbon with a chemical formula of C2H6. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas. Ethane is isolated on an industrial scale from natural gas, and as a byproduct of petroleum refining. Its chief use is as petrochemical feedstock for ethylene production. It could be described as two methane molecules attached to each other, less two hydrogens. 180px|thumbnail|Left|Ethane Number of hydrogens to carbons This equation describes the relationship between the number of hydrogen and carbon atoms in alkanes: H = 2C + 2 where "C" and "H" are used to represent the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms present in one molecule. If C = 2, then H = 6. Many textbooks put this in the following format: CNH2N+2 where "CN" and "H2N+2" represent the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms present in one molecule. If CN = 3, then H2N+2 = 2(3) + 2 = 8. (For this formula look to the "N" for the number, the "C" and the "H" letters themselves do not change.) << Organic chemistry | << Alkanes | << Methane | Ethane | Propane thru decane >> | Introduction to reactions >>