Butane - Wajehe Najafi

Killer Lighter

Foto taken by Haragayato. (2005). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:100_Yen_lighter.JPG

Foto taken by Haragayato. (2005). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:100_Yen_lighter.JPG

Butane is found naturally in two pure forms of normal     butane (n-butane), and isobutane (which is a propane with a single methyl group attached to it known as methylpropane) (1), (2). Butane is a highly flammable, explosive and volatile gas that evaporates at very low pressure and temperature around -1 ̊C (3). Therefore it is added to motor fuel (which is a mixture of mainly propane and butane) to form a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that is easy to ignite. As it gets colder and the temperature starts to drop, the concentration of butane in the motor fuel is increased to increase its volatility (4). This is why we never have a problem with turning on our cars and drive it even on the freezing cold days of winter.

Did you know that inhaling butane could kill you?

The proper industrial use of butane  is as propellant in aerosol sprays (such as hair sprays, deodorants and cooking oil sprays), fuel for cigarette lighters, motor fuel component, gasoline blending, refrigerant (part of cooling components), canned butane to use as fuel for cooking and camping, as well as in the synthesis of rubber (5). However, butane has been improperly used as a “recreational drug” by teenagers to get “HIGH”.  Suppressing effects of butane on the central nervous system causes a sense of happiness and excitement which is why teenagers are attracted to this cheap and legal chemical. However, it is very easy to overdose with butane, since it was not meant for any kind of personal use. The symptoms of overdose ranges from nausea, vomiting and blurred vision all the way to hallucination, loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, coma and finally death as the amount increases (4). Burning of butane gas in a closed environment is also a health risk as it allows formation of the toxic nitrogen dioxide gas that can be inhaled and result in serious health issues (6). So, it is important for all of us to compare the risks and “fun” benefit of inhaling butane and then decide whether the life-threatening risks are worth a few minutes of fun!

 References

1. Mears, D. E. and Eastman, A. D. (2005). Hydrocarbons. Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of     Chemical

Technology. (Vol. 13, pp 695-700), John wiley & Sons online library.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0471238961.1921182213050118.a01.pub2

2. Haynes, W. M. (2011). Butane. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (92^nd ed.). London, NY:

CRC Press.

3. Hovensa. (2006). Material Safety Data Sheet. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from

http://www.hovensa.com/pdf/butane.pdf

4. Schlager, N., Weisblatt, J., &  Newton. D. E. (2006). Vol. 1, pp. 119-123.  Detroit, UXL: Gale Group.

5. Drug Forum- Butane. (2003). Retrieved November 10, 2013, from                      

            http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showwiki.php?title=Butane

6. Ghosn, M., Flouty, R., & Saliba, N. A. (2005). Emission of Nitrogen Dioxide from Butane Gas Heaters and Stoves Indoors. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2(3), 707.