1-Butene is a colourless, stable but polymerises exothermically, extremely flammable liquefied
gas with an aromatic odour. It is insoluble in water and is one of the isomers of butane. 1-Butene readily forms explosive mixtures with air. It is incompatible with strong oxidising
agents, halogens, halogen acids, metal salts, boron trifluoride, fluorine, and nitrogen oxides.
1-Butene of high purity is made by cracking naphtha and separating it from other products
by an extra-high-purity distillation column. It is an important organic compound in the production
of several industrial materials – for instance, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE),
a more flexible and resilient polyethylene, and a range of polypropylene resins – and in the
production of polybutene, butylene oxide, and the C4 solvents secondary butyl alcohol (SBA)
and MEK. The vapour of 1-butene is heavier than air and may travel long distances to an ignition
source and flash back.
