General Description
Colorless liquid with a hydrocarbon odor. Usually in technical grade as a mixture of isomers. Used as a solvent, in organic synthesis, and as a polymerization inhibitor.
Reactivity Profile
The unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as 2-PENTENE, are generally much more reactive than the alkanes. Strong oxidizers may react vigorously with them. Reducing agents can react exothermically to release gaseous hydrogen. In the presence of various catalysts (such as acids) or initiators, compounds in this class can undergo very exothermic addition polymerization reactions.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Chemical Properties
clear colourless to slightly yellowish liquid
Physical properties
Clear, colorless, very flammable liquid with a disagreeable odor.
Uses
trans-2-Pentene has been used for the calculation of OH levels by the decay method.
Uses
Polymerization inhibitor; organic synthesis.
Safety Profile
A dangerous fire and explosion hazard when exposed to heat or flame; can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
Source
Schauer et al. (1999) reported trans-2-pentene in a diesel-powered medium-duty truck
exhaust at an emission rate of 50 μg/km.
Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic
compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds
from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The gas-phase emission
rate of trans-2-pentene was 16.0 mg/kg of pine burned. Emission rates of trans-2-pentene were
not measured during the combustion of oak and eucalyptus.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained trans-2-pentene at a concentration of 4.12
g/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without
catalytic converters were 0.71 and 77.4 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).
Environmental Fate
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air yields carbon dioxide and water.
Purification Methods
It is treated as above and washed with water, dried over anhydrous Na2CO3, and fractionally distilled. The middle cut is purified by two passes of fractional melting. [Beilstein 1 IV 814.]
