Butanol
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| Butanol | |
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| General | |
| Systematic name | 1-Butanol |
| Other names | Butanol Butan-1-ol n-Butanol normal-Butanol Butyl alcohol Butyric alcohol Propylcarbinol |
| Molecular formula | C4H10O |
| SMILES | CCCCO |
| Molar mass | 74.1216(42) g/mol |
| Appearance | clear liquid |
| CAS number | [71-36-3] |
| Properties | |
| Density and phase | 0.8098 g/cm³ @ 20 °C, liquid |
| Solubility in water | 9.1 mL/100 mL H2O at 25 °C |
| Melting point | −89.5 °C (183.7 K) |
| Boiling point | 117.73 °C (390.9 K) |
| Viscosity | 3 cP at 25°C |
| Structure | |
| Molecular shape | ? |
| Coordination geometry |
? |
| Crystal structure | ? |
| Dipole moment | 1.52 D (1-butanol) |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | External MSDS |
| Main hazards | flammable |
| NFPA 704 |
3
1
0
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| Flash point | 26-29 °C |
| R/S statement | R:R10 R22 R37/38 R41 R67 S: S7/9 S13 S26 S37/39 S46 |
| RTECS number | EO1400000 |
| Supplementary data page | |
| Structure and properties |
n, εr, etc. |
| Thermodynamic data |
Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas |
| Spectral data | UV, IR, NMR, MS |
| Related compounds | |
| Related alcohols | Propanol, Pentanol, Isobutanol, 2-Butanol, tert-Butanol |
| Related compounds | Butyraldehyde, Butyric acid, Butylene |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25°C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Butanol or butyl alcohol (sometimes also called biobutanol when produced biologically), is an alcohol with a 4 carbon structure and the molecular formula of C4H10O. It is primarily used as a solvent, as an intermediate in chemical synthesis, and as a fuel. There are four isomeric structures for butanol.
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[edit] Isomers
The unmodified term butanol usually refers to the straight chain isomer with the alcohol functional group at the terminal carbon, which is also known as n-butanol or 1-butanol. The straight chain isomer with the alcohol at an internal carbon is sec-butanol or 2-butanol. The branched isomer with the alcohol at a terminal carbon is isobutanol, and the branched isomer with the alcohol at the internal carbon is tert-butanol.
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Butanol isomers, due to their different structures, have somewhat different melting and boiling points. All are moderately miscible in water, less so than ethanol, and more so than the higher (longer carbon chain) alcohols. This is because all alcohols have a hydroxyl group which makes them polar which in turn tends to promote solubility in water. At the same time the carbon chain of the alcohol resists solubility in water. Methanol, ethanol and propanol, are fully miscible in water because the hydroxyl group predominates while butanol is moderately miscible because of the balance between the two opposing solubility trends. Like many alcohols, butanol is toxic.
[edit] Uses
Butanol sees use as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical and textile processes, in organic synthesis and as a chemical intermediate. It is also used as a paint thinner and a solvent in other coating applications where it is used as a relatively slow evaporating latent solvent in lacquers and ambient-cured enamels. It finds other uses such as a component of hydraulic and brake fluids.[1]
It is also used as a base for perfumes, but on its own has a highly alcoholic aroma. Butanol is also considered as a potential biofuel (see Butanol fuel). Butanol at 85 percent strength can be used in cars without any change to the engine (unlike ethanol) and it produces more power than ethanol and almost as much power as gasoline.
Salts of butanol are chemical intermediates for example alkali metal salts of tert-butanol are tert-butoxides.
[edit] Production
Since the 1950s, most butanol in the United States is produced commercially from fossil fuels. Butanol can also be produced by fermentation of biomass by bacteria. Prior to the 1950s, Clostridium acetobutylicum was used in industrial fermentation processes producing butanol. Research in the past few decades showed results of other microorganisms that can produce butanol through fermentation.
It has also been proposed that butanol be synthesized from ethanol through electrolysis.[citation needed]
- 2 C2H5OH + 2 C2H5OH → 2 C4H9OH + 2 H2 + O2
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Merck Index, 12th Edition, 1575.
