Propane is a high-energy gas that may be found in unrefined gasoline and flammable gas. Propane is found underground in association with combustible gas and petrol.

As industrialization progressed, so did the need for organic chemicals. Advancement in the chemical sector is responsible for the industrial revolution. Almost everything we use now is a result of the unprecedented triumph of chemical industrialization. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are present in varying amounts in organic chemistry, resulting in the production of many functional groups. Each functional group comprises hundreds of thousands of families with numerous members, each of which is unique in its attributes but is connected to some extent. Propane is a kind of organic molecule with the functional group alkane. Alkanes with a lower molecular weight emerge as gases or liquids. Propane can also be found in liquid form. It is primarily obtained from crude oil; a fractional distillation of mineral oil results in the separation of many molecules of varying molecular weight. Propane is utilized as a fuel in a variety of businesses as well as in the home. It has a relatively low combustion power when compared to other fuel powers. It is employed as an alternate fuel source in numerous engines, transportation vehicles, and machinery.

Propane[i] is one of the molecules separated. propane which is also named as petroleum gas liquid which naturally occurred as gas but it is compressed and made into liquid. its physical properties include non-toxicity and many others given as,

  1. It is without any odor
  2. it is colorless
  3. it is insoluble in polar solvents

its synonyms are

  1. n-PROPANE
  2. propyl hydride
  3. dimethyl methane
  4. Tri carbene

The molecular formula of propane is C3H8 or as well as CH3-CH2-CH3.propane is used as fuel it has a petroleum-like smell. Under normal vapor pressure it appears as a gas it’s stored under high pressure in the form of the liquid state. it easily gets ignited and should be transported with great care. the leaks are very common in the case of propane ad can lead to combustion. Its vapors are the main cause of exacerbation of the reaction leading the leaks back to the source causing fire and violent rupture of the vessel. propane is used as fuel as well as it is prepared as an additional product in the processing of natural gas as well.

Its physical properties are explained as,

⦁             Its chemical Formula contains total 3 carbons and 8 hydrogens in structure molecule

⦁             The molecular Mass of propane is 44.1 g/mol

⦁             the bond length between carbon and carbon bond (C – C) is 111.66 degrees.

⦁             the boiling point of propane is in minus scale which means it has lower vapor pressure and it’s evaporated at normal atmospheric pressure.

⦁             Its melting point is -116.9 °C, which is very low its naturally present in the form of volatile Gas.

⦁             propane has moderate density value is 495 kg/m³

Sources of Propane:

Mineral oil fractional distillation makes many organic compounds. Propane is also formed during this process as a by-product.it has low molecular formula and density leading to its gaseous state it gets liquified under higher pressure. that is why it’s called LPG abbreviated as Liquid Petroleum Gas. Usually, when propane is produced as a by-product its percentage of production is very low and it cannot fulfill its demands. propane is used as fuel in many industries and as fuel in domestic places as well. to fulfill the demands different other methods are also used for the production of propane more than half of the supplies are meetup by natural source production other are fulfilled by other routes including importing it.

Storage[ii]

Propane is produced and stored under pressure and is used as fuel its fuel power is low and it is highly flammable. Special Care and extra precautions should be observed when handling propane. Following are some precautionary guidelines that should be followed for safe and effective use and storage of propane.

  • It should never be stored at damp place
  • The propane should never be stored in the proximity of another chemical.
  • propane should never be stored in any space which is closed because it causes leakage of the gas
  • It should be stored directly in well lightened area which is directly exposed to light.
  • The area should be made safe and ignition free to avoid any accidental combustion.
  • The valve of the propane should be taken care of with extra care and precaution.
  • The Tanks which are filled with propane should always be stored in well ventilated space.
  • The valve of the container carrying propane should be tightly closed to avoid any leakage.
  • Propane should not be stored in any closed space or basement.

Where to get and cost:

The price of propane is increasing over a period of time. Many essential points lead to the increase in price main one is the imbalance between supply and demand. The demand for propane fuel has increased over the years leading to short supply which ultimately leads to the increase in the price of the product. A 41% increase in the overall price of propane has been seen since 2012. Propane is easily available in many countries. Different local, national, and international suppliers of propane are working in the market daily to meet up the fuel needs. Some companies providing their services are:

  1. Grill Flow
  2. CHS
  3. Flaming fuel
  4. Torch
  5. AmeriGas

Propane is not an expensive fuel and a very less amount of fuel is required to produce maximum energy. That is why it is used in many domestic as well as in many commercial purposes as fuel. Usually, a gallon of propane fuel cost up to 3 to 6 or sometimes 4 to 8 dollars. There is no fixed price for this fuel which is blamed on the refining industry. Since 2014 the price of the fuel has increased it is shown in the following table

Date Value (U.S dollar/Gallon)
September 2021 1.102
July 2021 0.994
November 2020 1.090
May 2019 0.707
September 2018 0.897
December 2017 0.757
November 2016 0.999

 

 

[i] https://www.budgetpropaneontario.com/blog/how-is-propane-made-and-why-does-it-matter

 

[ii] https://www.amerigas.com/about-propane/propane-safety/tank-storage