Propane is a colorless, odorless gas with the chemical formula C₃H₈, consisting of three carbon atoms linked in a chain with eight hydrogen atoms. Discovered in 1857 by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot and first liquefied in 1910 by Walter Snelling, propane has become one of the world’s most versatile fuels, powering everything from backyard barbecues to forklifts to rural home heating. This simple hydrocarbon, derived primarily from natural gas processing and oil refining, liquefies under moderate pressure at room temperature, making it exceptionally portable and earning it the designation as the world’s most popular “bottled gas.” With over 100 million Americans using propane regularly and global consumption exceeding 300 million tons annually, this clean-burning fuel bridges the gap between natural gas infrastructure and portable energy needs while producing significantly fewer emissions than gasoline or diesel.

Find a review of the 50 most important industrial gases here.

20 Fun Facts About Propane

Beyond the basics above, what else should we know about Propane? Check out the 20 fun facts below!

1. Propane liquefies at just 109 PSI at room temperature, compared to natural gas which requires -260°F or 5,000 PSI.
2. The distinctive “propane smell” is actually ethyl mercaptan added at 1 pound per 10,000 gallons for leak detection.
3. Propane burns 10% hotter than natural gas (3,614°F vs 3,254°F) but contains less energy per cubic foot when vaporized.
4. A standard 20-pound BBQ tank holds 4.7 gallons of liquid propane that expands to 1,030 cubic feet of gas.
5. NASCAR engines ran on propane until 1958, when gasoline sponsors demanded the switch for marketing reasons.
6. Propane snow begins falling on Titan at -300°F, where methane acts like water in an alien hydrological cycle.
7. The gas is 1.5 times heavier than air, requiring floor-level ventilation and causing basement explosion risks.
8. Propane-powered vehicles emit 60% less carbon monoxide and 85% less ozone-forming emissions than gasoline engines.
9. The molecule rotates end-over-end 2.7 × 10¹⁰ times per second at room temperature, measured by microwave spectroscopy.
10. Hank Hill made propane famous with “propane and propane accessories,” boosting industry recruitment by 15% during the show’s run.
11. Propane tanks are filled to only 80% capacity because liquid propane expands 17 times more than water when heated.
12. The Hindenburg actually used propane for cooking and heating – it performed flawlessly while hydrogen caused the disaster.
13. Propane costs fluctuate with crude oil prices despite 90% coming from natural gas, a pricing quirk from historical contracts.
14. Forklifts use 1 billion gallons of propane annually in warehouses because it burns clean enough for indoor use.
15. The gas liquefies your skin at -44°F on contact, causing frostbite that looks like burns from the rapid evaporation.
16. Hot air balloons use propane burners producing 12 million BTUs – enough heat to warm 120 homes for an hour.
17. Propane forms explosive mixtures between 2.1% and 9.5% in air – a narrower range than gasoline vapors.
18. Rural America stores 60 billion gallons of propane in tanks, creating a distributed strategic energy reserve.
19. The molecule’s carbon backbone bends at 112°, not the straight line many chemistry diagrams incorrectly show.
20. Propane-powered mosquito traps exploit the fact that mosquitoes track CO₂ plumes to find victims, luring them with exhaust.

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