Is Butane Heavier than Air – Is Butane Lighter than Air – Is LPG Lighter than Air

Butane is 2.006 times heavier than air, under the same temperature and pressure conditions. Butane has a molar mass of 58.124 g/mol vs 28.97 g/mol for air. So, butane is slightly more than twice the weight of air.

Butane gas relative density is heavier than air. Butane relative density is not lighter than air. Butane weighs 2.5436 kg/m³ whilst air weighs 1.225 kg/m³ (with both 15°C at 1 atm), so slightly more than twice the weight.

LPG (propane gas) is not lighter than air. In fact, LPG is over 50% heavier than air at sea level (1 atm). LPG density (propane density) is 1.55 times heavier than air.

So, LPG (propane) is heavier than air.

As a result, LPG gas, both propane and butane, will settle in low places.

LPG Density – Is LPG is Lighter than Air

LPG is not lighter than air. LPG is heavier than air. Butane is a bit more than 2 times heavier than air. Butane gas weighs 2.5436 kg/m³ whilst air weighs 1.225 kg/m³. Propane is 1.55 times heavier than air.  Propane gas weighs 1.898 kg/m³ vs air at 1.225 kg/m³. (All at 15°C and 1 atm).

Specific Gravity of LPG (propane gas) is 1.55 (air = 1.00).

At standard temperature and pressure – STP¹ – LPG is a gas.

LPG gas (vapour) is heavier than air.

The following apply to LPG, as a gas:

●  LPG – propane – weighs 0.1162 lbs/ft³.  Air weighs 0.0752 lbs/ft³.

Note that LPG gas is also referred to as “LPG vapour”.

Vapour (vapor is the US spelling) is the more technically correct term.

Note that vapours are gases however not all gases are vapours.

¹STP – Standard Temperature and Pressure – is defined as 0°C (32°F) and 1 atm (14.7 psia or 0 psig)

Is Butane Heavier than Air – Is Butane Lighter than Air

Butane is heavier than air, Butane is not lighter than air. Butane gas is 2.08 times heavier than air.

Butane weighs 2.5436 kg/m³ whilst Air weighs 1.225 kg/m³ (15°C at 1 atm). So, Butane is a bit more than 2x heavier than air.

Butane is one of the gases, along with propane, that is classified as LPG.

Why It’s Important to Know

In the event of an LPG gas leak, it is important to remember that LPG is heavier than air.

Leaking gas will settle to the lowest point, including basements and under houses.

Pits and drains are also obvious collection points.

So, if you have a leak, don’t assume that all of the gas is gone just because you no longer smell it on the main level of your home.

Be sure that the gas has dissipated everywhere, even within the low spots inside and around your home.

LPG Density – Specific Gravity of Liquid LPG

LPG density is less than that of water. LPG density or specific gravity is about half that of water, with 1 litre equalling 0.51 kg (at 15°C). Unlike water, 1 kilogram of LPG does NOT equal 1 litre of LPG. 1kg of LPG has a volume of 1.96L.

LPG is a liquid when stored under pressure in a cylinder or other vessel.

Conversely, 1L of LPG (propane) weighs 0.51kg (at 15°C).

Expressed in USA units of measure, 1 lb of propane (at 60°F) has a volume of 0.24 US gallons.

Conversely, 1 US gallon of propane (at 60°F) only weighs 4.23 lbs, instead of the 8.34 lbs it would weigh if it was water.

Propane is 580.88 kg/m³ (at boiling point of -42°C or -44°F)

Butane is 601.26 kg/m³ (at boiling point of -0.4°C or 31.3°F)

The specific gravity (SG) of liquid Butane is 0.601 (at 25°C)

LPG Liquid to Gas or LPG Gas to Liquid

Note that the following are liquid to gas or gas to liquid conversions:

●  LPG kg to m³ (1kg = 0.53m³) or m³ to kg (1m³ = 1.89kg)

●  LPG litres to m³ (1L = 0.27m³) or m³ to litres (1m³ = 3.70L)