SECTION 23

Physical Properties
This section contains a number of charts, correlations, and
calculation procedures to be used for predicting physical properties of hydrocarbons and components found with them.
Fig. 23-1 shows the nomenclature used in this section.

ponents. Immediately following is a detailed list of references

and footnoted explanation for the values in Fig. 23-2.
Physical properties for eighteen selected compounds can be
found in GPA Standard 2145, "Table of Physical Constants of
Paraffin Hydrocarbons and Other Components of Natural
Gas."

Fig. 23-2 is a table containing frequently used physical properties for a number of hydrocarbons and other selected com-

FIG. 23-1
Nomenclature
B = second virial coefficient for a gas mixture,
[kPa (abs)]-1
B = mole fraction H2S in sour gas stream, Eq 23-6
Bii = second virial coefficient for component i
Bij = second cross virial coefficient for components i
and j
bi1/2 = summation factor for component i
CABP = cubic average boiling point, C
d = density, g/cc
G = relative density (gas density)
Gi = relative density (gas gravity) of ideal gas, MW/MWa
Gid
= molecular mass ratio of component i in mixture
i
Hv = gross heating value per unit volume of ideal gas,
MJ/m3
Kw = Watson characterization factor, Fig. 23-12
k = thermal conductivity, W/(m C)
ka = thermal conductivity at one atmosphere, W/(m C)
M = mass fraction
m = mass, kg
MW = molecular mass, g mole
MABP = molal average boiling point, C or K
MeABP = Mean average boiling point, C or K
n = number of moles (mass/mole weight)
P = pressure, kPa (abs)
Pc = pseudocritical pressure adjusted for acid gas
composition, kPa (abs)
Pvp = vapor pressure at a reduced temperature of 0.7
Pwo = vapor pressure of water, 7.3811 kPa (abs) at 40C
R = gas constant, 8.3145 [kPa (abs) m3]/(K kg mole)
for all gases (see Section 1 for R in other units)
S = relative density at 15/15C
T = absolute temperature, K
t = ASTM D-86 distillation temperature, C or K,
Eq 23-11
Tc = pseudocritical temperature adjusted for acid gas
composition, K
V = volume, m3
VABP = volumetric average boiling point, C

23-1

W = mass, kg
WABP = weight average boiling point, C
yi = mole fraction of component i from analysis on dry
basis, Eq 23-37
x = mole fraction in liquid phase
yw
i = mole fraction of component i adjusted for water
content
y = mole fraction in gas phase
Z = compressibility factor
Greek
= pseudocritical temperature adjustment factor,
Eq 23-6
= MeABP/Tpc
= density, kg/m3
= viscosity at operating temperature and pressure,
centipoise
A = viscosity at 101.325 kPa (abs) (1 atm) and operating
temperature, centipoise
= factor defined by Eq 23-20
= surface tension, dynes/cm
= acentric factor
= kinematic viscosity, centistokes
Subscripts
a = air
b = boiling
c = critical
i = component i
L = liquid
m = mixture
pc = pseudocritical
r = reduced state
V = vapor
v = volume
w = water
Superscripts
id = ideal gas
w = water
o = reference state

FIG. 23-2
Physical Constants
NOTE: Numbers in this table do not have accuracies greater
than 1 part in 1000; in some cases extra digits have been added
to calculated values to achieve internal consistency or to permit
recalculation of experimental values.

A.

See Note No.

PHYSICAL CONSTANTS
B.

C.

*See the Table of Notes and References

D.

Refractive index,
nD 15C

Pressure,
kPa(abs)

Temperature, K

Volume, m3/kg

Number

C H4
C2 H 6
C3 H 8
C4 H 10
C4 H 10

16.043
30.070
44.097
58.123
58.123

-161.51
-88.59
-42.07
-11.79
-0.51

(35000)*
(6000)*
1369.8
530.89
379.61

-182.45*
-182.79*
-187.62"
-159.59
-138.35

1.00040*
1.21403*
1.29558*
1.3251*
1.33631*

4599.
4880.
4240.
3640.
3784.

190.56
305.41
369.77
407.82
425.10

0.00617
0.00489
0.00454
0.00446
0.00439

1
2
3
4
5

6
7
8

Isopentane
n-Pentane
Neopentane

C5 H 12
C5 H 12
C5 H 12

72.150
72.150
72.150

27.83
36.05
9.50

151.31
114.70
270.0

-159.89
-129.71
-16.58

1.35658
1.36024
1.345*

3381.
3365.
3199.

460.35
469.65
433.71

0.00427
0.00434
0.00420

6
7
8

9
10
11
12
13

n-Hexane
2-Methylpentane
3-Methylpentane
Neohexane
2,3-Dimethylbutane

C6
C6
C6
C6
C6

H 14
H 14
H 14
H 14
H 14

86.177
86.177
86.177
86.177
86.177

68.72
60.24
63.26
49.72
57.96

37.297
50.68
45.73
73.41
55.34

-95.31
-153.67
-162.89
-99.825
-128.53

1.37746
1.37417
1.37918
1.37157
1.37759

3030.
3010.
3120.
3080.
3130.

506.4
497.46
504.4
488.66
499.86

0.00429
0.00426
0.00426
0.00417
0.00415

9
10
11
12
13

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

n-Heptane
2-Methylhexane
3-Methylhexane
3-Ethylpentane
2,2-Dimethylpentane
2,4-Dimethylpentane
3,3-Dimethylpentane
Triptane

C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16
C 7 H 16

100.204
100.204
100.204
100.204
100.204
100.204
100.204
100.204

98.37
90.03
91.85
93.47
79.17
80.47
86.04
80.86

12.342
17.226
16.155
15.265
26.32
24.85
20.94
25.41

-90.55
-118.26

-118.58
-123.78
-119.21
-134.44
-24.56

1.39017
1.38743
1.39119
1.39594
1.38475
1.38408
1.39342
1.39196

2740.
2730.
2810.
2890.
2770.
2740.
2950.
2950.

539.2
530.06
535.16
540.46
520.36
519.66
536.26
531.06

0.00426
0.00420
0.00403
0.00415
0.00415
0.00417
0.00413
0.00397

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

n-Octane
Diisobutyl
Isooctane
n-Nonane
n-Decane
Cyclopentane
Methylcyclopentane
Cyclohexane
Methylcyclohexane

C8 H 18
C8 H 18
C8 H 18
C9 H 20
C10 H 22
C5 H 10
C6 H 12
C6 H 12
C7 H 14

114.231
114.231
114.231
128.258
142.285
70.134
84.161
84.161
98.188

125.65
109.08
99.21
150.78
174.11
49.22
71.83
80.78
100.94

4.146
8.417
12.966
1.358
0.4814
73.99
33.75
24.64
12.211

-56.76
-91.160
-107.35
-53.48
-29.63
-93.827
-142.43
6.550
-126.59

1.39981
1.39488
1.39392
1.40773
1.41411
1.40927
1.41240
1.42892
1.42566

2490.
2490.
2570.
2280.
2100.
4508.
3784.
4073.
3471.

568.4
549.96
543.86
594.7
617.7
511.6
532.75
553.5
572.15

0.00420
0.00422
0.00410
0.00433
0.00439
0.00371
0.00379
0.00366
0.00375

22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

Ethene(Ethylene)
Propene(Propylene)
1-Butene(Butylene)
cis-2-Butene
trans-2-Butene
Isobutene
1-Pentene
1,2-Butadiene
1,3-Butadiene
Isoprene

C2
C3
C4
C4
C4
C4
C5
C4
C4
C5

H4
H6
H8
H8
H8
H8
H 10
H6
H6
H8

28.054
42.081
56.108
56.108
56.108
56.108
70.134
54.092
54.092
68.119

-103.73
-47.68
-6.23
3.72
0.88
-6.91
29.95
10.84
-4.41
34.05

-169.15*
-185.25*
-185.35*
-138.90
-105.54
-140.34
-165.21
-136.19
-108.89
-145.95

(1.241)*
1.313*
1.351*
1.368*
1.359*
1.358*
1.3746

1.4253

5040.
4665.
4043.
4243.
3964.
4000.
3513.
(4502)
4277.
(3856)

282.34
365.55
419.92
435.54
428.59
417.86
464.74
(444)*
425.
(484)

0.00466
0.00448
0.00426
0.00417
0.00424
0.00425
0.00421
(0.0043)*
0.00407
(0.0041)*

31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49

Acetylene
Benzene
Toluene
Ethylbenzene
o-Xylene
m-Xylene
p-Xlyene
Styrene
Isopropylbenzene

C2
C6
C7
C8
C8
C8
C8
C8
C9

H2
H6
H8
H10
H10
H10
H10
H8
H 12

26.038
78.114
92.141
106.167
106.167
106.167
106.167
104.152
120.194

-84.01*
80.07
110.60
136.17
144.39
139.09
138.32
145.23
152.38

24.38
7.895
2.873
2.051
2.528
2.648
2.00
1.47

-80.8"
5.532
-94.98
-94.963
-25.18
-47.86
13.26
30.63
-96.021

1.5043
1.49960
1.49856
1.50795
1.49980
1.49839
1.5496
1.49400

6139.
4898.
4106.
3606.
3734.
3536.
3511.
4050.
3209.

308.31
562.12
591.76
617.16
630.29
617.01
616.19
(646)*
631.1

0.00432
0.00332
0.00343
0.00352
0.00348
0.00354
0.00357
0.00333
0.00355

41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49

50
51
52
53
54
55

Methyl alcohol
Ethyl alcohol
Carbon monoxide
Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen sulfide
Sulfur dioxide

CH4 O
C 2 H6 O
CO
CO2
H2 S
SO2

32.042
46.069
28.010
44.010
34.082
64.065

64.67
78.26
-191.45
-78.464*
-60.266
-9.94

35.44
17.903

2859.7
630.2

-97.65
-114.1
-204.99*
-56.56*
-85.48*
-75.47*

1.33028
1.36345
1.00036*
1.00049*
1.00061*
1.00062*

8097.
6148.
3494.
7374.
8963.
7884.

512.60
513.88
132.86
304.11
373.37
430.8

0.00368
0.00362
0.00329
0.00214
0.00288
0.00190

50
51
52
53
54
55

56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

Ammonia
Air
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Chlorine
Water
Helium
Hydrogen chloride

NH3
N 2 + O2
H2
O2
N2
Cl 2
H2O
He
HCl

17.0305
28.9625
2.0159
31.9986
28.0134
70.9054
18.0153
4.0026
36.461

-33.32
-194.34
-252.850*
-182.954*
-195.798
-33.95
99.974*
-268.95
-85.14

1555.

1146.
7.3849

6547.

-77.69*

-259.347*
-218.792*
-209.997*
-100.95
0.000

-114.17*

1.00036*
1.00028*
1.00013*
1.00027*
1.00028*
1.3878*
1.33347
1.00003*
1.00042

11350.
3771.
1293.
5043.
3398.
7977.
22064.
227.5
8310.

405.5
132.43
33.0
154.59
126.21
416.86
647.10
5.20
324.68

0.00425
0.00323
0.03185*
0.00229
0.00318
0.00175
0.003102
0.01436
0.00222

56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64

Vapor pressure,
kPa(abs), 40C

Freezing point,C
101.3250 kPa(abs)

Boiling Point, C
101.3250 kPa(abs)

Methane
Ethane
Propane
lsobutane
n-Butane

Compound

Formula

1
2
3
4
5

Number

Molar mass
(Molecular weight)

Critical constants

(9700)
1691.
459.0
338.3
366.5
477.4
141.65
269.
436.1
123.8

5/99

23-2

Revised (5-99)

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Physical Constants

23-3

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Physical Constants

23-4

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Notes and References for the Table of Physical Constants

23-5

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Notes and References for the Table of Physical Constants

23-6

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Notes and References for the Table of Physical Constants

23-7

FIG. 23-2 (Contd)

Notes for the Table of Physical Constants
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
m.
n.
A.

B.
C.

Values in parentheses are estimated values.

The temperature is above the critical point.
At saturation pressure (triple point).
Sublimation point.
The + sign and number following specify the number of cm3 of
TEL added per gallon to achieve the ASTM octane number of
100, which corresponds to that of Isooctane (2,2,4Trimethylpentane).
These compounds form a glass.
Average value from octane numbers of more than one sample.
Saturation pressure and 15C.
Index of refraction of the gas.
Densities of the liquid at the normal boiling point.
Heat of sublimation.
Equation 2 of the reference was refitted to give:
a = 0.7872957; b = 0.1294083; c = 0.03439519.
Normal hydrogen (25% para, 75% ortho).

p.

An extrapolated value.

q.

Gas at 15C and the liquid at the normal boiling point.

r.

Fixed points on the 1968 International Practical Temperature

Scale (IPTS-68).

s.

Fixed points on the 1990 International Temperature Scale

(ITS-90).

t.

Densities at the normal boiling point are: Ethane, 554.0 [29];

Propane, 581.0 [28]; Propene, 609.1 [5]; Hydrogen Chloride,
1192 [43]; Hydrogen Sulfide, 949.0 [25]; Ammonia, 681.6 [43];
Sulfur Dioxide, 1462 [43].

u.

Technically, water has a heating value in two cases: net

((2.466 MJ/kg) when water is liquid in the reactants, and gross
(+1.879 MJ/m3) when water is gas in the reactants. The value
is the ideal heat of vaporization (enthalpy of the ideal gas less
the enthalpy of the saturated liquid at the vapor pressure).
This is a matter of definition; water does not burn.

v.

Extreme values of those reported by reference 19.

Molar mass (molecular mass) is based upon the following

atomic weights: C = 12.011; H = 1.00794; O = 15.9994; N =
14.0067; S = 32.066; Cl = 35.4527. The values were rounded
off after calculating the molar mass using all significant figures
in the atomic weights.
Boiling point: the temperature at equilibrium between the liquid and vapor phases at 101.3250 kPa.
Freezing point: the temperature at equilibrium between the crystalline phase and the air saturated liquid at 101.3250 kPa.

J.

The liquid value is not rigorously CP, but rather it is the heat
capacity along the saturation line CS defined by: CS = CP T
(V/T)P(P/T)S. For liquids far from the critical point, CS
CP.

K.

The heating value is the negative of the enthalpy of combustion

at 15C and 101.3250 kPa (abs.) in an ideal reaction (one where
all gasses are ideal gasses). For an arbitrary organic compound, the combustion reaction is:
CnHmOhSjNk (s,l,or,g) + (n + m/4 h/2 + j) O2(g)
n CO2(g) + m/2 H2O (g or l) + k/2 N2(g) + j SO2(g),
where s, l and g denote respectively solid, liquid and ideal gas.
For gross heating values, the water formed is liquid; for net
heating values, the water formed is ideal gas. Values reported
are on a dry basis. To account for water in the heating value,
see GPA 2172. The MJ/kg liquid column assumes a reaction
with the fuel in the liquid state, while the MJ/m3 ideal gas
column assumes the gas in the ideal gas state. Therefore, the
values are not consistent if used in the same calculation, e.g. a
gas plant balance.

L.

The heat of vaporization is the enthalpy of the saturated vapor

at the boiling point at 101.3250 kPa minus the enthalpy of the
saturated liquid at the same conditions.

D.

The refractive index reported refers to the liquid or gas and is

measured for light of wavelength corresponding to the sodium
D-line (589.26 nm).

E.

The relative density: (liquid, 15C)/(water, 15C). The density of water at 15C is 999.10 kg/m3.

F.

The temperature coefficient of density is related to the expansion coefficient by: (/T)P/ = (V/T)P/V, in units of 1/T.

G.

Pitzer acentric factor: = log10(P/Pc) 1, P at T = 0.7 Tc

Compressibility factor of the real gas, Z = PV/RT, is calculated
using the second virial coefficient.
The density of an ideal gas relative to air is calculated by dividing the molar mass of the of the gas by 28.9625, the calculated average molar mass of air. See ref. 34 for the average
composition of dry air. The specific volume of an ideal gas is
calculated from the ideal gas equation. The volume ratio is:
V(ideal gas)/V(liquid in vacuum).

H.
I.

M. Air required for the combustion of ideal gas for compounds of

formula CnHmOhSjNk is:
V(air)/V(gas) = (n + m/4 - h/2 + j)/0.20946.

COMMENTS
1.987216 calth/(K mol)
1.985887 Btu(I.T.)/(R(lbmol)
Conversion factors:
1 m3 = 35.31467 ft3 = 264.1721 gal.(U.S.)
1 kg = 2.204623 lbm
1 kg/m3 = 0.06242795 lbm/ft3 =0.001 g/cm3
1 kPa = 0.01 bar = 0.009869233 atm = 0.1450377 psia
1 atm = 101.3250 kPa = 14.69595 psia = 760 Torr
1 kJ = 0.2390057 kcalth = 0.2388459 kcal (I.T.)
= 0.9478172 Btu (I.T.)

Units: reported values are in SI units based on the following:

mass: kilogram, kg
length: meter, m
temperature: International Temperature of 1990
(ITS-90), where 0C = 273.15 K.
Other derived units are:
volume: cubic meter, m3
pressure: Pascal, Pa (1 Pa = N/m2)
energy: Joule, J
Gas constant, R:
8.314510 J/(K mol)
0.008314510 m3(kPa/(Kmol)

23-8

Revised (5-99)