Ball-and-stick models of the ethane molecule

Ethane is an organic chemical compound. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas. Its chief use is as feedstock for ethylene production. Related compounds may be formed by replacing a hydrogen atom with another functional group; the ethane moiety is called an ethyl group. For example, an ethyl group linked to a hydroxyl group yields ethanol, the alcohol in beverages. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas. It has a boiling point of -88.5 degrees Celsius and melting point of -182.8 degrees Celsius. Solid ethane exists in several modifications. On cooling under normal pressure, the first modification to appear is a plastic crystal, crystallizing in the cubic system. In this form, the positions of the hydrogen atoms are not fixed; the molecules may rotate freely around the long axis. Ethane is only very sparingly soluble in water. 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