What are the thermodynamic properties of 1 - Butanol?

Jun 20, 2025

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Bob Lee
Bob Lee
Senior Research Scientist focusing on flavor development and pharmaceutical intermediates. Dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the food and beverage industry.

1-Butanol, also known as n - butanol, is a four - carbon alcohol with the molecular formula C₄H₉OH. As a reliable 1 - Butanol supplier, I am well - versed in its various properties, especially its thermodynamic properties. Understanding these properties is crucial for many industrial applications, ranging from the chemical industry to the fuel sector.

1. Physical State and Phase Transitions

At standard temperature and pressure (STP, 0 °C and 1 atm), 1 - Butanol is a colorless, flammable liquid. The melting point of 1 - Butanol is approximately - 89.8 °C. This relatively low melting point indicates that at normal environmental conditions, it exists in the liquid phase. The low melting point is due to the relatively weak intermolecular forces compared to substances with higher molecular weights or stronger bonding types.

The boiling point of 1 - Butanol is around 117.7 °C. The boiling process involves the conversion of the liquid phase to the gaseous phase. During this phase transition, the molecules gain enough energy to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together in the liquid state. The relatively high boiling point of 1 - Butanol compared to some other small - molecule organic compounds is mainly because of the presence of hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonding occurs between the oxygen atom of one 1 - Butanol molecule and the hydrogen atom of another 1 - Butanol molecule. These hydrogen bonds are stronger than the typical van der Waals forces, requiring more energy to break them and allow the molecules to enter the gas phase.

2. Enthalpy of Formation

The standard enthalpy of formation (ΔHf°) of 1 - Butanol at 25 °C and 1 atm is approximately - 327.1 kJ/mol. The enthalpy of formation is the change in enthalpy when one mole of a compound is formed from its constituent elements in their standard states. A negative value for the enthalpy of formation indicates that the formation of 1 - Butanol from its elements (carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in their standard states: graphite for carbon, H₂ gas for hydrogen, and O₂ gas for oxygen) is an exothermic process. This means that energy is released during the formation of 1 - Butanol, and the compound is more stable than its individual elements.

The enthalpy of formation is important in chemical reactions. For example, in combustion reactions, the enthalpy of formation of 1 - Butanol is used to calculate the heat released. The combustion of 1 - Butanol can be represented by the following chemical equation:

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C₄H₉OH(l)+6O₂(g)→4CO₂(g)+5H₂O(l)

The heat of combustion (ΔHc) can be calculated using the standard enthalpies of formation of the reactants and products. The exothermic nature of the combustion reaction makes 1 - Butanol a potential fuel source.

3. Entropy

Entropy (S) is a measure of the degree of disorder or randomness in a system. The standard entropy of 1 - Butanol at 25 °C and 1 atm is approximately 228.2 J/(mol·K). In the liquid state, the molecules of 1 - Butanol have a certain degree of freedom to move around, but they are still relatively close - packed compared to the gaseous state.

When 1 - Butanol undergoes a phase transition from the liquid to the gas phase, the entropy increases significantly. This is because in the gas phase, the molecules have much more freedom to move and are more spread out, resulting in a higher degree of disorder. Entropy also plays a role in chemical reactions. For a reaction involving 1 - Butanol, if the products have a higher entropy than the reactants, the entropy change (ΔS) of the reaction is positive, which favors the spontaneity of the reaction according to the second law of thermodynamics.

4. Gibbs Free Energy

The standard Gibbs free energy of formation (ΔGf°) of 1 - Butanol at 25 °C and 1 atm is approximately - 163.0 kJ/mol. The Gibbs free energy combines the effects of enthalpy and entropy and is used to predict the spontaneity of a reaction at constant temperature and pressure. A negative value for ΔGf° indicates that the formation of 1 - Butanol from its elements is a spontaneous process under standard conditions.

The relationship between Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS), and temperature (T) is given by the equation ΔG = ΔH - TΔS. This equation allows us to predict how changes in temperature can affect the spontaneity of a reaction involving 1 - Butanol. For example, if a reaction with 1 - Butanol has a positive ΔH and a positive ΔS, at high temperatures, the TΔS term may become large enough to make ΔG negative, making the reaction spontaneous.

5. Heat Capacity

The heat capacity of 1 - Butanol is an important thermodynamic property. The specific heat capacity of liquid 1 - Butanol at 25 °C is approximately 2.49 kJ/(kg·K). Heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a certain amount. A relatively high specific heat capacity means that 1 - Butanol can absorb a significant amount of heat energy without a large increase in temperature.

This property is useful in applications where 1 - Butanol is used as a heat - transfer medium. For example, in some industrial processes, 1 - Butanol can be used to absorb and transfer heat from one part of the system to another.

Applications and Our Offerings

The unique thermodynamic properties of 1 - Butanol make it suitable for a wide range of applications. In the chemical industry, it is used as a solvent due to its ability to dissolve a variety of organic and inorganic substances. Its relatively high boiling point and heat capacity make it a good choice for processes that require a stable solvent at elevated temperatures.

In the fuel industry, 1 - Butanol is considered a potential biofuel. Its high energy content, as indicated by its negative enthalpy of formation and exothermic combustion reaction, makes it a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

As a 1 - Butanol supplier, we not only provide high - quality 1 - Butanol but also offer related products. For example, we have 99% 2 - Methyl - 1 - propanol CAS 78 - 83 - 1, 99% 3 - Methyl - 2 - butanol CAS 598 - 75 - 4, and Hot Selling 99% Decyl Alcohol CAS 112 - 30 - 1 With Accept Sample Order. These products also have their own unique thermodynamic properties and applications in different industries.

If you are interested in 1 - Butanol or any of our related products, we invite you to contact us for procurement and further discussion. Our team of experts is ready to provide you with detailed information and technical support to meet your specific needs.

References

  1. Atkins, P. W., & de Paula, J. (2006). Physical Chemistry. Oxford University Press.
  2. Lide, D. R. (Ed.). (2003). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. CRC Press.
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