Gases - Densities

Densities and molecular weights of some common gases - acetylene, air, methane, nitrogen,
oxygen and many others...
Densities, molecular weight and chemical formulas of some common gases can be found in the
table below:
Gas

Formula

Molecular
weight

Acetylene (ethyne)

C2H2

26

Air

29

Ammonia

NH3

17.031

Argon

Ar

39.948

Benzene
Blast furnace gas

C6H6

78.11

Butane

C4H10

58.1

Butylene (Butene)

C4H8

56.11

Carbon dioxide

CO2

44.01

Carbon disulphide
Carbon monoxide
Carbureted Water Gas
Chlorine
Coal gas
Coke Oven Gas
Combustion products
Cyclohexane
Digester Gas (Sewage or Biogas)
Ethane
Ethyl Alcohol
Ethyl Chloride
Ethylene

Density - (kg/m3)
(lb/ft3)
1.0921)
0.06821)
2)
1.170
0.07292)
1.2051)
0.07521)
1.2932)
0.08062)
0.7171)
0.7692)
1.6611)
1.78372)
3.486
1.2502)
2.4891)
2.52)
2.504
1.8421)
1.9772)

0.04481)
0.04802)
0.10371)
0.1113532)
0.20643
0.07802)
0.15541)
0.1562)
0.1482)
0.11501)
0.12342)

1.1651)
1.2502)

0.07271)
0.07802)
0.048
0.18691)

76.13
CO

28.01

Cl2

70.906

2.9941)
0.582)
1.112)

0.0342)
0.0692)

84.16
C2H6

C2H4

30.07
46.07
64.52
28.03

1.264

1)

1.2602)

0.062
0.07891)

0.07862)

Gas

Formula

Molecular
weight

Helium

He

4.02

N-Heptane
Hexane
Hydrogen
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Sulfide
Krypton
Methane

HCl
H2S

100.20
86.17
2.016
36.47
36.5
34.076

CH4

16.043

H2

Density - (kg/m3)
(lb/ft3)
0.16641)
0.010391)
2)
0.1785
0.0111432)

0.08992)
1.632)
1.5281)
1.4341)
3.742)

0.00562)

0.6681)
0.7172)

0.04171)
0.04472)

0.044 0.0562)
0.0561792)
0.07801)
0.07271)
0.0780722)

Methyl Alcohol
Methyl Butane

32.04
72.15

Methyl Chloride

50.49

Natural gas

19.5

0.7 - 0.92)
0.89992)
1.2491)
1.1651)
1.25062)

Neon
Nitric oxide

Ne
NO

20.179
30.0

Nitrogen

N2

28.02

Nitrogen Dioxide
N-Octane
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Trioxide

NO2
N2O
NO3

46.006
114.22
44.013
62.005

Oxygen

O2

32

Ozone
N-Pentane
Iso-Pentane
Propane
Propene (propylene)

O3

48.0
72.15
72.15
44.09
42.1

R-11
R-12
R-22
R-114

C3H8
C3H6

137.37
120.92
86.48
170.93

0.09541)
0.08951)

0.114
1.3311)
1.42902)
2.142)

0.08311)
0.0892102)
0.125

1.8821)
1.7481)

0.11751)
0.10911)

Gas

Formula

Molecular
weight

R-123
R-134a
Sasol
Sulfur

32.06

Sulfur Dioxide

SO2

64.06

Sulfur Trioxide
Sulfuric Oxide
Toluene

SO3
SO
C7H8

Water Vapor, steam

Water gas (bituminous)
Xenon

H2O

Density - (kg/m3)
(lb/ft3)

152.93
102.03
0.032
0.135
2.2791)
2.9262)

0.17031)
0.18282)

80.062
48.063
92.141

4.111

0.2435

18.016

0.804

0.048
0.054

5.862)

1)

NTP - Normal Temperature and Pressure - is defined as air at 20oC (293.15 K, 68oF) and 1 atm
( 101.325 kN/m2, 101.325 kPa, 14.7 psia, 0 psig, 30 in Hg, 760 torr)
2)

STP - Standard Temperature and Pressure - is defined as air at 0oC (273.15 K, 32oF) and 1 atm
(101.325 kN/m2, 101.325 kPa, 14.7 psia, 0 psig, 30 in Hg, 760 torr)

1 lbm/ft3 = 16.018 kg/m3

1 kg/m3 = 0.0624 lbm/ft3
Vm (1 bar & 273.15K) = 22.71108 l/mol

Note that even if pounds per cubic foot is often used as a measure of density in the U.S., pounds
are really a measure of force, not mass. Slugs are the correct measure of mass. You can divide
pounds per cubic foot by 32.2 for a rough value in slugs.