Ethane (C2H6) is an organic chemical compound belonging to the alkane family. It is a colorless, odorless gas at standard temperature and pressure. Ethane is commonly found in natural gas and is also produced as a by-product during petroleum refining
Some key points about ethane include:
- Chemical Formula: C2H6
- Structure: Ethane consists of two carbon atoms bonded together with single bonds and six hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms. Its structural formula is CH3-CH3.
- Physical Properties: Ethane is a colorless gas with no distinct odor. It has a boiling point of -88.6°C and a melting point of -183.3°C
- Industrial Importance: Ethane is used as a feedstock for the production of ethylene, a key building block for the petrochemical industry. Ethylene is used in the production of various products such as plastics, polyethylene, ethylene glycol, and ethyl alcohol
- Flammability: Ethane is an extremely flammable gas at room temperature. When mixed with air in the range of 3.0% to 12.5% by volume, it forms an explosive mixture
- Other Uses: Ethane is also used in the preparation of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid, which find applications in paints, varnishes, adhesives, plastics, and more. It is also used as a marker for investigating lipid peroxidation
When ethane (C2H6) undergoes an addition reaction, it typically involves the addition of atoms or groups to the carbon-carbon double bond of an unsaturated compound. However, since ethane does not have a double bond, it does not readily undergo addition reactions.
Addition reactions are more commonly https://bbgate.com/tags/nitroethane/ observed in unsaturated hydrocarbons like ethene (C2H4), which contains a carbon-carbon double bond. Ethene can undergo addition reactions with various reagents, including halogens (such as bromine), hydrogen, water, and more. In these reactions, the double bond is broken, and new bonds are formed with the added atoms or groups.
For example, when ethene reacts with bromine (Br2), an addition reaction occurs, resulting in the formation of 1,2-dibromoethane. The reaction proceeds through the formation of a cyclic intermediate called a bromonium ion.
C2H4 + Br2 → C2H4Br2
It's important to note that ethane, being a saturated hydrocarbon, does not have a double bond and therefore does not undergo addition reactions like ethene.
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