Asetyleenikaasu

Asetyleenikaasu, also known as etyyne, is a chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a colorless gas with a faint garlic-like odor when pure, though commercial grades often have a stronger, unpleasant smell due to impurities like phosphine and hydrogen sulfide. Asetyleenikaasu is the simplest alkyne, characterized by a triple bond between its two carbon atoms.

This gas is highly flammable and can form explosive mixtures with air over a wide range of concentrations. Its high flame temperature makes it valuable in welding and cutting applications when mixed with oxygen, producing the characteristic oxy-acetylene flame. Asetyleenikaasu is also used as a precursor in the synthesis of various organic chemicals, including plastics, solvents, and synthetic fibers.

Due to its instability and tendency to decompose explosively under pressure, asetyleenikaasu is typically stored and transported dissolved in a solvent like acetone or dimethylformamide within a porous mass in specialized cylinders. This method stabilizes the gas and prevents its decomposition. The production of asetyleenikaasu is primarily achieved through the reaction of calcium carbide with water or by cracking hydrocarbons at high temperatures.