why is butane a liquid in the lighter but a gas in the buret full of water?
2007-03-31 06:59:16 · 3 answers · asked by Djoanna Maria T 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The boiling point of butane is actually a little less then the freezing point of water. You can see that by taking a can of butane, the ones that are used to refill lighters, and press down the rod while holding the can upside down. Liquid butane will shoot out and freeze everything it comes into contact with. So don't put it onto your hand although a few drops shouldn't injure you.
If you pour a larger amount of liquid butane into a cup you can see it boiling away leaving some ice in the cup because water from the air condenses and freezes in the cup. BTW. That is the fastest way to make an ice cube. Instant ice cube.
2007-03-31 07:15:41 · answer #1 · answered by Voice of Insanity 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Beacuse the butane is under pressure in the lighter, so it is a liquid. When the butane is released from the lighter, the pressure is reduced and this allows it to vaporize to a gas under normal room conditions.
Butane's boiling point is very close to room temeprature, so it doesn't take much to get it to a gaseous state. The next molecule up the chain, pentane, is a liquid at room temperature. It is just a little bit heavier than butane.
2007-03-31 14:03:38 · answer #2 · answered by reb1240 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is pressurized in the lighter. put enough pressure on a gas and remove the heat generated by that pressurization, and many gases liquify.
2007-03-31 14:02:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋