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Diss Factsheets

Physical & Chemical properties

Melting point / freezing point

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Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
Up to 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Non-GLP, non-guideline, Information from published handbook, acceptable with restrictions.
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The use of secondary sources of data is acceptable when they are based on a critical evaluation of peer-reviewed data and a consequent selection of a reliable and representative value for the property under investigation. The introduction to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics states that data for physical constants have been taken from many sources, including both compilations and the primary literature. Where conflicts were found, the value deemed most reliable was chosen. Therefore, although the method used is not known, the values presented here are acceptable as they are from a reliable secondary source of phys chem. data.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Type of method:
other: No data reported
Specific details on test material used for the study:
N/A
Key result
Melting / freezing pt.:
-138.3 °C
Atm. press.:
1 013 hPa
Remarks on result:
other: At standard temperature and pressure

N/A

Conclusions:
The melting point of butane is -138.3°C.
Executive summary:

The melting point of butane is -138.3˚C. This information is taken from a reliable peer reviewed handbook and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use as the key study for this endpoint.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
Up to 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: GLP status not known, guideline not known, information from a published handbook, acceptable with restrictions
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The use of secondary sources of data is acceptable when they are based on a critical evaluation of peer-reviewed data and a consequent selection of a reliable and representative value for the property under investigation. The introduction to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics states that data for physical constants have been taken from many sources, including both compilations and the primary literature. Where conflicts were found, the value deemed most reliable was chosen. Therefore, although the method used is not known, the values presented here are acceptable as they are from a reliable secondary source of phys chem. data.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Type of method:
other: Not known
Specific details on test material used for the study:
N/A
Key result
Melting / freezing pt.:
-182.79 °C
Atm. press.:
1 013 hPa
Decomposition:
no
Sublimation:
no

N/A

Conclusions:
The melting point of ethane is -182.79°C.
Executive summary:

No information on the primary source of the data or the methods used is available. However, this information is taken from a reliable peer reviewed handbook and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use as the key study for this endpoint. The melting point of ethane is -182.79˚C.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
Up to 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Non-GLP, non-guideline, Information from published handbook, acceptable with restrictions.
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The use of secondary sources of data is acceptable when they are based on a critical evaluation of peer-reviewed data and a consequent selection of a reliable and representative value for the property under investigation. The introduction to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics states that data for physical constants have been taken from many sources, including both compilations and the primary literature. Where conflicts were found, the value deemed most reliable was chosen. Therefore, although the method used is not known, the values presented here are acceptable as they are from a reliable secondary source of phys chem. data.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Type of method:
other: No data reported
Specific details on test material used for the study:
N/A
Key result
Melting / freezing pt.:
-159.4 °C
Atm. press.:
101.3 kPa
Remarks on result:
other: At standard temperature and pressure

N/A

Conclusions:
The melting point of isobutane is -159.4°C.
Executive summary:

The melting point of isobutane is -159.4˚C. This information is taken from a reliable peer reviewed handbook and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use as the key study for this endpoint.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
Up to 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Non-GLP, non-guideline, Information from published handbook, acceptable with restrictions.
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The use of secondary sources of data is acceptable when they are based on a critical evaluation of peer-reviewed data and a consequent selection of a reliable and representative value for the property under investigation. The introduction to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics states that data for physical constants have been taken from many sources, including both compilations and the primary literature. Where conflicts were found, the value deemed most reliable was chosen. Therefore, although the method used is not known, the values presented here are acceptable as they are from a reliable secondary source of phys chem. data.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Type of method:
other: No data reported
Specific details on test material used for the study:
N/A
Key result
Melting / freezing pt.:
-182.47 °C
Atm. press.:
1 013 hPa
Remarks on result:
other: At standard temperature and pressure

N/A

Conclusions:
The melting point of methane is -182.47°C
Executive summary:

The melting point of methane is -182.47˚C. This information is taken from a reliable peer reviewed handbook and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use as the key study for this endpoint.

Endpoint:
melting point/freezing point
Type of information:
experimental study
Adequacy of study:
key study
Study period:
Up to 2008
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Non-GLP, non-guideline, Information from published handbook, acceptable with restrictions.
Principles of method if other than guideline:
The use of secondary sources of data is acceptable when they are based on a critical evaluation of peer-reviewed data and a consequent selection of a reliable and representative value for the property under investigation. The introduction to the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics states that data for physical constants have been taken from many sources, including both compilations and the primary literature. Where conflicts were found, the value deemed most reliable was chosen. Therefore, although the method used is not known, the values presented here are acceptable as they are from a reliable secondary source of phys chem. data.
GLP compliance:
not specified
Type of method:
other: No data reported
Specific details on test material used for the study:
N/A
Key result
Melting / freezing pt.:
-187.6 °C
Atm. press.:
1 013 hPa
Remarks on result:
other: At standard temperature and pressure

N/A

Conclusions:
The melting point of propane is -187.6°C.
Executive summary:

The melting point of propane is -187.63˚C. This information is taken from a reliable peer reviewed handbook and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use as the key study for this endpoint.

Description of key information

The melting point of the substances in the category ranged from -187.6 to -138.3 °C.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Melting / freezing point at 101 325 Pa:
-170 °C

Additional information

Data from the CRC handbook (Lide 2008) were available for the substances methane, ethane, propane, butane and isobutane. Data are also available from the Merck handbook (O’Neill 2006) for methane, ethane and propane. The information is taken from reliable peer reviewed handbooks and so can be considered reliable and suitable for use for this endpoint.

The melting point of methane is -182.47°C, ethane is -182.79°C, propane is -187.6°C, butane is -138.3°C and isobutane is -159.4°C. The mean of the melting point values for the category is -170°C and this has been used to complete the 'key value for chemical safety assessment'.