SHEET /vs/butane-vs-propane · COMPARISON
Butane vs Propane: what is the difference?
How they differ
Both are alkanes sold as bottled fuel and the difference is one carbon and one temperature. Propane boils at about minus 42 degrees Celsius and butane at about minus 1, which means propane stays a usable gas in cold weather and butane will not vaporise properly near freezing. That is the whole reason a winter camping stove takes propane and a lighter takes butane. Butane is the heavier at 58.12 against 44.1 and liquefies under gentler pressure, which is why it can be held in a thin clear lighter body while propane needs a steel cylinder. Butane delivers slightly more energy per unit volume as a liquid, and propane more per unit weight.
Side by side
| Butane | Propane | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C4H10 | C3H8 |
| Molecular weight | 58.12 g/mol | 44.1 g/mol |
| Family | Alkanes | Alkanes |
| Everyday group | Everyday chemistry | Everyday chemistry |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | Danger | Danger |
| CAS number | 106-97-8 | 74-98-6 |
| PubChem CID | 7843 | 6334 |
Structural similarity 0.50 of 1, computed as a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.
Common questions
- What is the difference between Butane and Propane?
- Both are alkanes sold as bottled fuel and the difference is one carbon and one temperature. Propane boils at about minus 42 degrees Celsius and butane at about minus 1, which means propane stays a usable gas in cold weather and butane will not vaporise properly near freezing. That is the whole reason a winter camping stove takes propane and a lighter takes butane.
- Is Butane bigger than Propane?
- Butane is the heavier molecule, 58.12 g/mol against 44.1 g/mol for Propane. Butane is C4H10 and Propane is C3H8.