Etiline

Etiline, also known as ethylene or ethene, is the simplest alkene, with the chemical formula C2H4. It is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature. The molecule contains a carbon–carbon double bond, with each carbon sp2-hybridized and bonded to two hydrogens; the molecule is planar and rotation about the double bond is restricted.

Physically, ethylene has a boiling point of minus 104 degrees Celsius and a melting point well below that, making it a gas under standard conditions. It is nonpolar and only sparingly soluble in water, with higher solubility in organic solvents. Ethylene is highly reactive due to its double bond and participates readily in addition reactions.

Industrial production and major applications: Ethylene is produced mainly by steam cracking of hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, or naphtha. It is a foundational building block in the petrochemical industry and serves as a precursor to a wide range of plastics and chemicals. Major uses include the production of polyethylene polymers, ethylene oxide, ethylbenzene (which yields styrene), and vinyl chloride monomer. Ethylene is also used in some chemical processes to balance reaction feeds and as a solvent or reactant in various syntheses.

Biological role: Ethylene is also a plant hormone involved in regulating fruit ripening, flower wilting, and responses to stress. In agriculture, controlled ethylene exposure can accelerate or synchronize ripening of climacteric fruits.

Safety and naming: Ethylene is highly flammable and forms explosive mixtures with air; it is stored under pressure or at low temperatures in appropriate containment. The name etiline appears in several languages and the IUPAC preferred name is ethene.