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    ethene (C2H4)

    ethene
    Also known as ethylene, the first member of the alkene family of hydrocarbons. Ethene is a colorless, flammable gas, with a slightly sweet smell. It burns in air with a luminous flame and forms an explosive mixture with pure oxygen. It combines directly with the halogens, e.g., with chlorine to form 1,2-dichloroethane. With hydrogen it forms ethane.

    Ethene is made by cracking hydrocarbons from petroleum and is an important raw material for making other organic chemicals, including ethanal, ethanol, and ethane-1,2-diol. It can be polymerized to make polyethene.

    Ethene occurs naturally in plants, in which it serves as a growth substance. It is well known for its ability to stimulate the ripening of fruits.


    Melting point -169.4 °C
    Boiling point -103.7 °C


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