Ball-and-stick models of the propane molecule

Propane is a three-carbon alkane. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing, it is commonly used as a fuel in domestic and industrial applications and in low-emissions public transportation. Propane has lower volumetric energy density, but higher gravimetric energy density and burns more cleanly than gasoline and coal. Propane is a colorless, odorless gas. At normal pressure it liquifies below its boiling point at a temperature of -42 degrees Celsius and solidifies below its melting point at a temperature of -187.7 degrees Celsius. Due to the bad stacking properties of the molecule, is the reason for the particularly low melting point. Propane undergoes combustion reactions in a similar fashion to other alkanes. In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide. Contributor: Junjie Chen, ORCID: 0000-0001-5055-4309, E-mail address: [e-mail], Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, 2000 Century Avenue, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, P.R. China