Ethane
Preferred IUPAC name Ethane
Systematic name Dicarbane (never recommended)
Identifiers
CAS number	74-84-0
PubChem	6324
EC number	200-814-8
MeSH	Ethane
ChEBI	CHEBI:42266
RTECS number	KH3800000
SMILES	CC
Beilstein Reference	1730716
Gmelin Reference	212
Properties
Molecular formula	C2H6
Molar mass	30.07 g mol-1
Appearance	Colorless gas
Odor	Odorless
Density	1.3562 kg/m−3 (gas at 0 °C) 544.0 kg/m−3 (liquid at -88,5 °C) 206 kg/m−3 (at critical point 305.322 K)
Melting point	-183 °C, 90.4 K, -297 °F
Boiling point
Solubility in water	56.8 mg L−1
Vapor pressure	3.8453 MPa (at 21.1 °C)
kH	19 nmol Pa−1 kg−1
Acidity (pKa)	50
Basicity (pKb)	-36
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-37.37·10−6 cm3/mol
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation ΔfHo298	−84 kJ mol−1
Std enthalpy of combustion ΔcHo298	−1561.0–−1560.4 kJ mol−1
Specific heat capacity, C	52.49 J K−1 mol−1
Hazards
NFPA 704	4 1 0
Explosive limits	2.9–13%
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Ethane is an organic chemical compound with chemical formula C₂H₆.

At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colourless, odorless gas. It is isolated from natural gas, and as a byproduct of petroleum refining.

Its main use is in the chemical industry, to make ethylene by steam cracking.