acetyleren

Acetyleren, also known as acetylene or ethyne, is a chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a colorless gas with a distinctive, garlic-like odor when impure. Acetyleren is the simplest member of the alkyne class of hydrocarbons, characterized by at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

Acetyleren was first synthesized in 1836 by Edmund Davy, but it was later independently rediscovered and named by Marcellin Berthelot in 1862. The name "acetyleren" is derived from its relation to acetic acid, with the suffix "-ene" indicating the presence of a double or triple bond.

Acetyleren is produced industrially as a mixture with other gases, primarily hydrogen, from the partial combustion of methane. It is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block in the production of various chemicals, including vinyl chloride for PVC plastic and acrylic fibers. It is also used in welding and cutting metals due to its high temperature flame when burned with oxygen.

The gas is unstable in its pure form and can be explosive when compressed, so it is usually handled as a solution in acetone or dimethylformamide. Acetyleren is also highly reactive, making it useful in various chemical reactions, but also requiring careful handling to prevent accidents.

In addition to its industrial uses, acetyleren plays a role in astrochemistry, as it has been detected in interstellar space. It is also involved in the synthesis of various natural products and pharmaceuticals. Despite its utility, acetyleren's handling requires strict safety measures due to its potential hazards.