ethyne

views updated Jun 11 2018

ethyne (acetylene) Colourless, flammable gas (C2H2), manufactured by cracking of petroleum fractions. The simplest alkyne, it is explosive if mixed with air. When burned with oxygen, it produces extremely high temperatures up to 3480°C (6300°F) and is used in oxyacetylene torches. It is polymerized to manufacture plastics, synthetic fibres, resins and neoprene. It is used to produce ethanal and ethanoic acid. Properties: r.d. 0.625; m.p. −80.8°C (−113.4°F); b.p. −84°C (−119.2°F).