ETHANE

The
Chemical Identifier fields
include common identification numbers, the
NFPA diamond
U.S. Department of Transportation hazard labels, and a general
description of the chemical. The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes
from a variety of
data sources.
CAS Number | UN/NA Number |
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DOT Hazard Label | USCG CHRIS Code |
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NIOSH Pocket Guide | International Chem Safety Card |
none |
NFPA 704
Diamond | Hazard | Value | Description | |||||||||
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1 | Can cause significant irritation. | |||||||||
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4 | Burns readily. Rapidly or completely vaporizes at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature. | ||||||||||
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0 | Normally stable, even under fire conditions. | ||||||||||
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(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A colorless odorless gas. It is easily ignited. The vapors are heavier than air. It can asphyxiate by the displacement of air. Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. Contact with the liquid may cause frostbite.
The
Hazard fields
include
special hazard alerts
air and water
reactions, fire hazards, health hazards, a reactivity profile, and
details about
reactive groups assignments
and
potentially incompatible absorbents.
The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of
data sources.
Reactivity Alerts
- Highly Flammable
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable.
Fire Hazard
Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. CAUTION: Hydrogen (UN1049), Deuterium (UN1957), Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid (UN1966) and Methane (UN1971) are lighter than air and will rise. Hydrogen and Deuterium fires are difficult to detect since they burn with an invisible flame. Use an alternate method of detection (thermal camera, broom handle, etc.) Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release flammable gas through pressure relief devices. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. (ERG, 2016)
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. CAUTION: Hydrogen (UN1049), Deuterium (UN1957), Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid (UN1966) and Methane (UN1971) are lighter than air and will rise. Hydrogen and Deuterium fires are difficult to detect since they burn with an invisible flame. Use an alternate method of detection (thermal camera, broom handle, etc.) Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release flammable gas through pressure relief devices. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket. (ERG, 2016)
Health Hazard
In high vapor concentrations, can act as simple asphyxiant. Liquid causes severe frostbite. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
Saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as ETHANE, may be incompatible with strong oxidizing agents like nitric acid. Charring of the hydrocarbon may occur followed by ignition of unreacted hydrocarbon and other nearby combustibles. In other settings, aliphatic saturated hydrocarbons are mostly unreactive. They are not affected by aqueous solutions of acids, alkalis, most oxidizing agents, and most reducing agents. Peroxidizable
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents
No information available.
The
Response Recommendation fields
include isolation and evacuation distances, as well as recommendations for
firefighting, non-fire response, protective clothing, and first aid. The
information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of
data sources.
Isolation and Evacuation
Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:
As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.
LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 800 meters (1/2 mile).
FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. In fires involving Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) (UN1075); Butane, (UN1011); Butylene, (UN1012); Isobutylene, (UN1055); Propylene, (UN1077); Isobutane, (UN1969); and Propane, (UN1978), also refer to BLEVE - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (ERG page 368). (ERG, 2016)
As an immediate precautionary measure, isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.
LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 800 meters (1/2 mile).
FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. In fires involving Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) (UN1075); Butane, (UN1011); Butylene, (UN1012); Isobutylene, (UN1055); Propylene, (UN1077); Isobutane, (UN1969); and Propane, (UN1978), also refer to BLEVE - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS (ERG page 368). (ERG, 2016)
Firefighting
Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:
DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. CAUTION: Hydrogen (UN1049), Deuterium (UN1957) and Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid (UN1966) burn with an invisible flame. Hydrogen and Methane mixture, compressed (UN2034) may burn with an invisible flame.
SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical or CO2.
LARGE FIRE: Water spray or fog. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk.
FIRE INVOLVING TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2016)
DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED. CAUTION: Hydrogen (UN1049), Deuterium (UN1957) and Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid (UN1966) burn with an invisible flame. Hydrogen and Methane mixture, compressed (UN2034) may burn with an invisible flame.
SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical or CO2.
LARGE FIRE: Water spray or fog. Move containers from fire area if you can do it without risk.
FIRE INVOLVING TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. For massive fire, use unmanned hose holders or monitor nozzles; if this is impossible, withdraw from area and let fire burn. (ERG, 2016)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from ERG Guide 115 [Gases - Flammable (Including Refrigerated Liquids)]:
ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Prevent spreading of vapors through sewers, ventilation systems and confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. CAUTION: When in contact with refrigerated/cryogenic liquids, many materials become brittle and are likely to break without warning. (ERG, 2016)
ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames in immediate area). All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Prevent spreading of vapors through sewers, ventilation systems and confined areas. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. CAUTION: When in contact with refrigerated/cryogenic liquids, many materials become brittle and are likely to break without warning. (ERG, 2016)
Protective Clothing
Self-contained breathing apparatus for high vapor concentrations. (USCG, 1999)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
No information available.
First Aid
Remove from exposure; support respiration. (USCG, 1999)
The
Physical Property fields
include properties such as vapor pressure and
boiling point, as well as explosive limits and
toxic exposure thresholds
The information in CAMEO Chemicals comes from a variety of
data sources.
Chemical Formula: |
|
Flash Point:
-211 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL):
2.9 %
(USCG, 1999)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL):
13 %
(USCG, 1999)
Autoignition Temperature:
940 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Melting Point:
-279.9 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: data unavailable
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): data unavailable
Specific Gravity:
0.546
at -127.48 ° F
(USCG, 1999)
Boiling Point:
-127.5 ° F
at 760 mm Hg
(USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight:
30.07
(USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: data unavailable
Ionization Potential: data unavailable
IDLH: data unavailable
AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)
No AEGL information available.ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)
No ERPG information available.PACs (Protective Action Criteria)
Chemical | PAC-1 | PAC-2 | PAC-3 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ethane (74-84-0) | 65000 ppm ![]() |
230000 ppm ![]() |
400000 ppm ![]() |
LEL = 30000 ppm |

(DOE, 2016)
The
Regulatory Information fields
include information from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Title III Consolidated List of
Lists,
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility
Anti-Terrorism Standards,
and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's
Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard List
(see more about these
data sources).
EPA Consolidated List of Lists
Regulatory Name | CAS Number/ 313 Category Code |
EPCRA 302 EHS TPQ |
EPCRA 304 EHS RQ |
CERCLA RQ | EPCRA 313 TRI |
RCRA Code |
CAA 112(r) RMP TQ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ethane | 74-84-0 | 10000 pounds |
(EPA List of Lists, 2015)
DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
RELEASE | THEFT | SABOTAGE | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemical of Interest | CAS Number | Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
Min Conc | STQ | Security Issue |
Ethane | 74-84-0 | 1.00 % | 10000 pounds | flammable |
(DHS, 2007)
OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List
No regulatory information available.
This section provides a listing of alternate names for this chemical,
including trade names and synonyms.
- BIMETHYL
- DIMETHYL
- ETHANE
- ETHANE, COMPRESSED
- ETHYL HYDRIDE
- METHYLMETHANE
- R 170
- R 170 (HYDROCARBON)
Version 2.7.1 rev 3