What's the fuel in those cheap Bic lighters?

[Golgatha]

Boiling point of butane is -0.45°C at atmospheric pressure.

www.chemfinder.com

It has a very low heat capacity, so there is almost no chance of capturing the liquid form by freezing it. However, you might have luck blowing up a ballon a few times (to stretch out the rubber) and then wrapping the nipple part of the ballon around the lighter before pressing the valve which lets the butane out to capture it.

One can also use an evacuated pyrex flask with a two-way valve immersed in liquid nitrogen connected to the lighter to capture the escaping gas as well, but I'm probably the only one here with access to that kind of equipment (used this to manipulate butadiene before).

 

[TheGizmo]

what the point? you can go buy a bottle of naptha for like $2 and it has enough to fill like 50 bic lighters...

only thing worth doing with those is throwing them on the road and watching them explode or pop

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Ophir

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Muse
For real? What's the boiling point of butane?

-11.7 °C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butane

Yup, and that's 53 fahrenheit. If I refrigerate it before drilling the holes I believe I can get it into a jar as envisioned.

-0.5C (or -11.7C for that matter) is not 53 Fahrenheit.

Um, you're right. My mistake. I didn't notice the minus sign. It's actually 11 fahrenheit. Well, I can put in the freezer. Actually, I don't think I'll bother. I bought a gallon of naptha some time ago at a going out of business sale for $10. I have most of it left. Don't know if they are equivalent as far as a solvent goes, though. Seems doubtful. Clearly, butane would only be a solvent in very cold temperatures, and that's not practical. I might have fun with them, but that's about it.