eteno

Eteno, also known as ethene or ethylene, is the simplest alkene, with chemical formula C2H4. The IUPAC preferred name is ethene; ethylene is common in English, while eteno is used in some languages. It is a gaseous hydrocarbon at ambient conditions and serves as a fundamental building block in organic chemistry.

Structure and properties: The molecule consists of two carbon atoms connected by a double bond (C=C); each carbon is also bonded to two hydrogen atoms. It is a planar, unsaturated hydrocarbon; typically a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature, with a boiling point far below ambient conditions. It participates in a wide range of addition reactions across the double bond.

Production and occurrence: Industrially, ethene is produced mainly by steam cracking of hydrocarbons such as naphtha or gas oil. It can also be obtained by dehydration of ethanol and as a byproduct of various refinery processes. It occurs naturally in small amounts in some fruits and plants, where it acts as a plant hormone regulating ripening.

Applications: The primary use of ethene is as a building block for polymers, most notably polyethylene. It also serves as a precursor for other chemicals such as ethylene oxide, and vinyl chloride. In agriculture, controlled release of ethene is used to induce fruit ripening.

Safety: Ethene is highly flammable and forms explosive mixtures with air; handling requires proper storage and ventilation. It should be kept away from heat sources and ignition conditions.