| Chemical Properties |
colourless gas |
| Definition |
ChEBI: An alkene that is prop-1-ene substituted by a methyl group at position 2. |
| Uses |
Primarily used to produce diisobutylene, trimers, butyl rubber, and other polymers; also to produce antioxidants for foods, packaging, food supplements, and for plastics: Hatch, Pet. Refin. 39, No. 6, 207 (1960). |
| General Description |
ISOBUTYLENE is a colorless gas with a faint petroleum-like odor. For transportation ISOBUTYLENE may be stenched. ISOBUTYLENE is shipped as a liquefied gas under its own vapor pressure. Contact with the liquid can cause frostbite. ISOBUTYLENE is easily ignited. Its vapors are heavier than air and a flame can flash back to the source of leak very easily. The leak can either be a liquid or vapor leak. ISOBUTYLENE can asphyxiate by the displacement of air. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. ISOBUTYLENE is used in the production of isooctane, a high octane aviation gasoline. |
| Air & Water Reactions |
Highly flammable. |
| Reactivity Profile |
ISOBUTYLENE is incompatible with oxidizers. ISOBUTYLENE polymerizes easily. ISOBUTYLENE reacts easily with numerous materials, such as alkyl halides, halogens, concentrated sulfuric acid, hypochlorous acid, aluminum chloride, carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a cobalt catalyst. Polymerization is catalyzed by aluminum chloride and boron trifluoride. |
| Hazard |
Highly flammable, dangerous fire and explosion risk, explosive limits in air 1.8–8.8%. |
| Health Hazard |
Inhalation of moderate concentrations causes dizziness, drowsiness, and unconsciousness. Contact with eyes or skin may cause irritation; the liquid may cause frostbite. |
| Fire Hazard |
Behavior in Fire: Containers may explode in fire. Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a long distance to a source of ignition and flash back. |
| Purification Methods |
Dry isobutene by passage through anhydrous CaSO4 at 0o. Purify it further by freeze-pump-thaw cycles and trap-to-trap distillation. [Beilstein 1 IV 796.] |
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