{{#if:OdourlessOdourlessColourless liquid626 mg mL−1200 nm40 mg L−1 (at 20 °C)3.25557.90 kPa (at 20.0 °C)7.8 nmol Pa−1 kg−1~45~591.358240 μPa s (at 20 °C)142.7144.1125|! style="background: #F8EABA; text-align: center;" colspan="2" | Properties[2]
Pentane
Skeletal formula of pentane
Skeletal formula of pentane with all explicit hydrogens added
Ball and stick model of pentane Spacefill model of pentane
Identifiers
CAS number 109-66-0 7pxY
PubChem 8003
ChemSpider 7712 7pxY
UNII 4FEX897A91 7pxY
EC number 203-692-4
UN number 1265
DrugBank DB03119
MeSH pentane
ChEBI CHEBI:37830 7pxY
ChEMBL CHEMBL16102 7pxY
RTECS number RZ9450000
Beilstein Reference 969132
Gmelin Reference 1766
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Molecular formula C5H12
Molar mass 72.15 g mol−1
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of
formation
ΔfHo298
−174.1–−172.9 kJ mol−1
Std enthalpy of
combustion
ΔcHo298
−3.5095–−3.5085 MJ mol−1
Standard molar
entropy
So298
263.47 J K−1 mol−1
Specific heat capacity, C 167.19 J K−1 mol−1
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
GHS pictograms The flame pictogram in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) The exclamation-mark pictogram in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) The health hazard pictogram in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) The environment pictogram in the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
GHS signal word DANGER
GHS hazard statements H225, H304, H336, H411
GHS precautionary statements P210, P261, P273, P301+310, P331
EU Index 601-006-00-1
EU classification Flammable F+ Harmful Xn Dangerous for the Environment (Nature) N
R-phrases R12, R51/53, R65, R66, R67
S-phrases (S2), S16, S29, S33
NFPA 704
4
1
0
Flash point −49.0 °C
Autoignition
temperature
260.0 °C
Explosive limits 1.4–8.3%
LD50
  • 3 g kg−1 (dermal, rabbit)
  • 5 g kg−1 (oral, mouse)
Related compounds
Related alkanes
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
 14pxY (verify) (what is: 10pxY/10pxN?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Pentane is an organic compound with the formula C5H12 — that is, an alkane with five carbon atoms. The term may refer to any of three structural isomers, or to a mixture of them: in the IUPAC nomenclature, however, pentane means exclusively the n-pentane isomer; the other two being called "methylbutane" and "dimethylpropane". Cyclopentane is not an isomer of pentane.

Pentanes are components of some fuels and are employed as specialty solvents in the laboratory. Their properties are very similar to those of butanes and hexanes.

Isomers

Common name normal pentane
unbranched pentane
n-pentane
isopentane neopentane
IUPAC name pentane 2-methylbutane 2,2-dimethylpropane
Molecular
diagram
130px 140px 120px
Skeletal
diagram
150px 110px 80px
Melting
Point (°C)[3]
−129.8 −159.9 −16.6
Boiling
Point (°C)[3]
36.0 27.7 9.5
Density (g/L)[3] 621 616 586

Industrial uses

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

Because of its low boiling point, low cost, and relative safety, pentane is used as a working medium in geothermal power stations. It is added into some refrigerant blends as well.

Laboratory use

Pentanes are relatively inexpensive and are the most volatile alkanes that are liquid at room temperature, so they are often used in the laboratory as solvents that can be conveniently evaporated. However, because of their nonpolarity and lack of functionality, they can only dissolve non-polar and alkyl-rich compounds. Pentanes are miscible with most common nonpolar solvents such as chlorocarbons, aromatics, and ethers. They are also often used in liquid chromatography.

Physical properties

The boiling points of the pentane isomers range from about 9 to 36 °C. As is the case for other alkanes, the more branched isomers tend to have lower boiling points.

The same trend normally holds for the melting points of alkane isomers, and indeed that of isopentane is 30 °C lower than that of n-pentane. However, the melting point of neopentane, the most heavily branched of the three, is 100 °C higher that of isopentane. The anomalously high melting point of neopentane has been attributed to the better solid-state packing assumed to be possible with its tetrahedral molecule; but this explanation has been challenged on account of it having a lower density than the other two isomers.[3]

The branched isomers are more stable (have lower heat of formation and heat of combustion) than normal pentane. The difference is 1.8 kcal/mol for isopentane, and 5 kcal/mol for neopentane.[4]

Rotation about two central single C-C bonds of n-pentane produces four different conformations.[5]

Reactions

All pentane isomers burn with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water:

C5H12 + 8 O2 → 5 CO2 + 6 H2O

As with other hydrocarbons, pentanes undergo free radical chlorination:

C5H12 + Cl2 → C5H11Cl + HCl

Such reactions are unselective; with n-pentane, the result is 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, n-pentane is also a substrate:

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

References

  1. "pentane - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 16 September 2004. Identification and Related Records. http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=8003&loc=ec_rcs. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
  2. Record of n-Pentane in the GESTIS Substance Database from the IFA, accessed on 19 April 2011
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 James Wei (1999), Molecular Symmetry, Rotational Entropy, and Elevated Melting Points. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., volume 38 issue 12, pp. 5019–5027 doi:10.1021/ie990588m
  4. From the values listed at Standard enthalpy change of formation (data table).
  5. Script error

External links

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az:Pentan bg:Пентан bs:Pentan ca:Pentà cs:Pentan da:Pentan de:Pentane el:Πεντάνιο es:Pentano eo:Pentano eu:Pentano fa:پنتان fr:Pentane ko:펜테인 hi:पेन्टेन hr:Pentan id:Pentana it:Pentano he:פנטאן kk:Пентан ku:Pentan la:Pentanum lv:Pentāns lb:Pentan hu:Pentán nl:N-pentaan ja:ペンタン no:Pentan pl:Pentan pt:Pentano ru:Пентан stq:Pentan simple:Pentane sk:Pentán sr:Пентан fi:Pentaani sv:Pentan uk:Пентани vi:Pentan zh:戊烷