Difference Between Propane and Propene
Main Difference
The main difference between Propane and Propene is that Propane is a saturated hydrocarbon with single bonds only, whereas propene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon with a double bond in addition to single bonds.
Propane vs. Propene
Propane is an organic compound with a chemical formula C3H8, whereas propene is an organic compound with a chemical formula C3H6. In propane, the three carbons have a single bond between each of them. On the contrary, in propene, the first two carbons have a double bond, whereas a single bond is present between the second and the third carbon.
Propane has a total of eight hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms, whereas propene has six hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms, two atoms less than propane molecule. The boiling point of propane is -42 degrees Celcius, whereas the boiling point of propene is -47.6 degrees Celcius.
Propane is an alkane, whereas propene is an alkene. Propane is a saturated compound. On the other hand, propene is an unsaturated compound having enough space for accommodating double and triple bonds. Propane has ten single bonds, whereas propene has one double bond and seven single bonds.
The hydrocarbon is having three carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and single bonds between carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen atoms are called propane. On the contrary, the hydrocarbon having three carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, the double bond between the first and the second carbon, and single bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms is called propene.
Propane does not give a bromine water test, and the solution remains brown that shows the saturated character of propane. On the flip side, propene gives a bromine water test, and the solution turns colorless, which depicts the unsaturated character of propene.
Comparison Chart
| Propane | Propene |
| An organic compound with chemical formula C3H8 is called propane. | An organic compound with chemical formula C3H6 is called propene. |
| Character | |
| Saturated | Unsaturated |
| Category | |
| Alkane | Alkene |
| No. of Hydrogen Atoms | |
| Eight | Six |
| Molar Mass | |
| 44.10 g/mol | 42.081 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | |
| -42 degrees Celcius | -47.6 degrees Celcius |
| No. of Single Bonds | |
| Ten | Seven |
| No. of Double Bonds | |
| Zero | One |
| No. of Sigma Bonds | |
| Ten | Seven |
| No. of Pi Bonds | |
| Zero | One |
| Odor | |
| Odorless | Petroleum like odor |
| Member No. | |
| 3rd member of the alkane class | 2nd member of the alkene class |
| Obtained From | |
| Natural gas and petroleum | Cracking of petroleum |
| Usage | |
| As fuel | In organic synthesis |
| Bromine-water Test | |
| Negative | Positive |
| Effect on Solution | |
| Solution color remains the same (brown) | Solution color turns colorless |
What is Propane?
Propane is an odorless colorless gas of the alkane family. It is created over long periods by the decomposition reactions of organic matter. Propane is composed of three carbon and eight hydrogen atoms linked with each other through sigma bond formation.
Propane is a naturally occurring gas, which is created along with a variety of hydrocarbons, including crude oil, butane, and gasoline, etc. by the breakdown of remains of tiny sea animals and plants. Propane is a gas at normal temperature and pressure but can be liquefied under specific conditions. Propane vapors are heavier and denser as compared to air.
Propane is given a nickname of portable gas, which means that it is easier to use, store, and transport as compared to natural gas. Propane cannot be synthesized in a shorter time. It requires a long time to be produced by organic disintegration.
The specific gravity of liquid propane is 0.51 as compared to water. Therefore, propane is less dense than water. Propane is non-polar. Thus, propane is soluble only in non-polar solvents like carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, benzene, and ether, etc. and insoluble in polar solvents.
Propane is less reactive as compared to propane. Propane does not react with strong acids, bases, oxidants, or reductants. Propane reacts with halogens and gives halogenation reactions in the presence of sunlight.
Uses of Propane
- Space and water heating
- Cooking
- Fuel for engine application like buses and forklifts
- Crop drying, weed control, powering equipment
- Irrigation pumps, grain dryers
- Generators, cutting metals and processing heat
What is Propene?
Propene is described as a colorless gas, which has a pale petroleum odor. Propene consists of a single, double bond between the first pair of carbon atoms. Propene carries one double bond and seven single bonds between its atoms.
Propene is non-polar in nature. Therefore, it is soluble in non-polar solvents like benzene. Propene is insoluble in polar substances like water. The boiling point of propene is -47.6 degrees Celcius, which is close enough to the boiling point of propane.
Propene is weakly polar, just like propane, but it is slightly more reactive as compared to propane due to the presence of weak pi bond in it. The pi ponds present in propene can be easily removed and added as well that increases the rate of reaction of propene. Therefore, the dipole moment of propene is higher as compared to propane.
Due to the unsaturated character of propene, it can form polymer compounds. The double bond can carry out the process of addition polymerization by opening up the double bond. The polymer made by addition polymerization of propene is polypropylene or polypropene. One of the most important reactions of propene is the combustion, which can be either complete or incomplete combustion.
Uses of Propene
- In the formation of films and fibers
- In making containers and packaging
- In making caps and closures
- In the production of chemicals like propylene oxide, acrylonitrile, cumene, butyraldehyde, acrylic acid, etc
Key Differences
Conclusion
It is concluded that propane is an alkane, whereas propene is an alkene.
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