Propene
The three-carbon alkene used to make polypropylene.
- Formula
- C3H6
- Functional group
- C=C
- Molar mass
- 42.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propylene, propene
Overview
Propylene
The three-carbon alkene used to make polypropylene.
Addition polymerisation links propene molecules into chains with methyl side groups. Catalyst choice helps control how those groups are arranged.
Identifiers
- Formula
- C3H6
- Functional group
- C=C
- Molar mass
- 42.08 g/mol
- Also known as
- propylene, propene
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- C=CC
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C3H6/c1-3-2/h3H,1H2,2H3
- PubChem CID
- 8252
Properties
- Melting Point
- -185.30 °C
- Boiling Point
- -47.68 °C
- Density
- Density: 0.505 g/cu cm at 25 °C (pressure >1 atm )
- Water solubility
- In water, 200 mg/L at 25 °C
Related compounds
- Alkenes
The three-carbon alkene used to make polypropylene.
Connected reactions
- Hydration: Propene → Propan-2-ol
Propene gives propan-2-ol through hydration.
- Hydrobromination: Propene → 2-Bromopropane
Protonation of propene favours the secondary carbocation over a primary one. Bromide then forms the C-Br bond at the central carbon.
References
- Poly(propene): manufacture and usesChemical Industry Education Centre, University of York
- PubChem: PropeneNational Center for Biotechnology Information
Identity retrieved 2026-09-08; matched against the record's isomeric structure. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propene — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8252#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-466
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propene — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8252#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-466
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propene — densityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8252#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 95th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2014-2015, p. 3-466
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Propene — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8252#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: McAuliffe C; J Phys Chem 70: 1267-75 (1966)