Ethylene

Ethylene (<a href="/facts/IUPAC/2AV6myCK">IUPAC</a> name: ethene) is a <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a> which has the formula C2H4 or H2C=CH2. It is a colourless, <a href="/facts/Flammable/1QexTQ4T">flammable</a> gas with a faint "sweet and <a href="/facts/Musk/4zJGHg3h">musky</a>" odour when pure. It is the simplest <a href="/facts/Alkene/RtYcS6kU">alkene</a> (a hydrocarbon with <a href="/facts/Carbon%25E2%2580%2593carbon_bond/nLE4z5BK">carbon–carbon</a> <a href="/facts/Double_bond/qDemMn0c">double bonds</a>). 
Ethylene is widely used in the chemical industry, and its worldwide production (over 150 million <a href="/facts/Tonne/gMymLmWv">tonnes</a> in 2016) exceeds that of any other <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a>. Much of this production goes toward creating <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polythene</a>, which is a widely used <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a> containing <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a> chains of ethylene units in various chain lengths. Production <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas_emissions/Cu9nXPHE">emits greenhouse gases</a>, including <a href="/facts/Methane/kBHneYnh">methane</a> from <a href="/facts/Feedstock/cthCpclF">feedstock</a> production and <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a> from any non-<a href="/facts/Sustainable_energy/EnD6dsKV">sustainable energy</a> used.
Ethylene is also an important natural <a href="/facts/Plant_hormone/h3noouev">plant hormone</a> and is used in agriculture to induce <a href="/facts/Ripening/Nkn4Mqdh">ripening</a> of <a href="/facts/Fruit/PBpuzk60">fruits</a>. The <a href="/facts/Hydrate/dev82l69">hydrate</a> of ethylene is <a href="/facts/Ethanol/3lCLfBSP">ethanol</a>.

Ethylene open-in-new

Ethylene