What Is Cyclopropane Gas?
Cyclopropane gas is a cycloalkane molecule consisting of three carbon atoms forming a simple ring, with each carbon atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless gas at room temperature, with a melting point of -127°C and a boiling point of -33°C. Cyclopropane can be liquefied when pressurized to 4-6 atmospheres and dissolves in 2.7 times its volume of water, ethanol, or acetone.
Discovered by August Freund in 1881, its anesthetic properties were identified by Henderson and Lucas in 1929. Commercial use of cyclopropane as an anesthetic began thereafter, with industrial production starting in 1936.
Uses of Cyclopropane Gas
Cyclopropane gas was previously used as an anesthetic due to its rapid induction of anesthesia when inhaled. It is a non-irritant, sweet-smelling agent. However, its use entailed risks such as a drop in blood pressure (cyclopropane shock) and arrhythmia during continuous anesthesia, limiting its use to anesthesia induction only. Additionally, when mixed with oxygen, cyclopropane poses an explosion risk. Due to these safety concerns, it is no longer widely used.