Liquefied gas: n-butane

Pressure

10.0 mbar

low high

Temperature

20 °C

cold hot

Solidification inactive

Phase diagram

n-Butane: 20 °C / 1.0 bar

Display

Simplified particle level

n-Butane particles

Sources

Phase diagram
Adapted teaching excerpt from the phase diagram of n-butane.

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Information

Temperature, pressure and phases of n-butane

n-Butane is a non-polar alkane that is gaseous at room temperature and standard pressure. Under suitable pressure, it can become liquid in a sealed syringe.

In the phase diagram, the marker shows the selected values. The macroscopic level remains visible; the simplified particle level can be displayed alongside it for direct comparison.

Tasks

Change the temperature and pressure and observe when n-butane is gaseous, liquid or solid.
Compare the macroscopic and particle levels: how do the spacing, motion and density of the n-butane particles change?
Describe how temperature and pressure affect particle spacing and the state of matter.