Ethane

Ethane is a chemical compound with chemical formula C₂H₆ and structural formula CH₃-CH₃.

It is an alkane, that is, an aliphatic hydrocarbon. At ordinary pressure and temperature ethane is a colourless, odourless gas; boiling point is –88.6°; melting point is –183.3°.

It is the simplest hydrocarbon containing a more than one carbon atom. Ethane is a prominent compound of industrial importance, by converting it to ethylene or using it as a building block[?] for the petrochemical industry[?], for the synthesis both of polyethylene plastic and other small compounds.