ETHANE (CH₃-CH₃)

Ethane is an important paraffinic hydrocarbon intermediate for the production of olefins, especially ethylene. It is the second member of the alkanes and is mainly recovered from natural gas liquids. Ethane, like methane, is a colorless gas that is insoluble in water. It does not react with acids and bases, and is not very reactive toward many reagents. It can also be partially oxidized to a carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixture or chlorinated under conditions similar to those used for methane. When ethane is combusted in excess air, it produces carbon dioxide and water with a heating value of 1,800 Btu/ft3 (approximately double that produced from methane).  As a constituent of natural gas, ethane is normally burned with methane as a fuel gas. Ethane's relation with petrochemicals is mainly through its cracking to ethylene.     Ethylene is the largest end use of ethane in the U.S. while it is only 5% in Western Europe..