What is the Specific Gravity of Liquid Propane when compared to water?

The specific gravity of a substance is a dimensionless number that indicates how dense the substance is compared to water. Water has a specific gravity of 1.

Liquid propane has a specific gravity of approximately 0.51 when compared to water. This means that propane is less dense than water, allowing it to float on the surface if both substances were placed in the same container. Understanding the specific gravity of propane is essential for gas technicians, as it influences how propane behaves when stored, transported, and utilized in various applications.

The value of 0.51 effectively highlights the characteristics of propane in situations such as tank design and vaporization processes. Such information is critical during installation and safety assessments, as it affects the handling and storage requirements for propane as a fuel. Knowing that propane is lighter than water also informs technicians about the potential for vapor dispersion in the environment.