In message
,
Tudor Hughes writes
On Oct 4, 11:36*pm, Adrian wrote:
On 2011-10-04, Tudor Hughes wrote:

* * * Acetaldhyde boils at 20°C. *Did you mean isopentane? *Nice
little refrigerant with a melting point of -160°C and boiling at 26°C
thus having a liquid range tailor-made for Will.

I was thinking that acetaldehyde is a little more common than ispoentane,
thus probably more likely. But I like your suggestion

Adrian

I'd rather use isopentane than acetaldehyde which is awkward
'orrible stuff which chokes you. I've used gallons of isopentane in
my work and there's probably a certain amount in petrol especially in
the winter. AFAIK it's the lightest liquid (density 0.626) and
lugging 25-litre cans of it around is rather nice compared with some
substances.

Gogole tells me that tetraborane(10) (B4H10) is less dense, but boils at
18C, and is pyrophoric, so you wouldn't want to be lugging cans of it
around.

Propane and butane under pressure are also less dense, but you have the
weight of the containment vessel to worry about.

If you go cold enough hydrogen (H2) may be least dense liquid (depending
on whether you can produce liquid atomic hydrogen).

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, Surrey.

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley