Ethylene CAS#74-85-1

Products Description of Ethylene

Ethylene is the simplest olefin, composed of two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms connected via a carbon-carbon double bond, with the molecular formula CH₂=CH₂. As an indispensable basic chemical feedstock, it is utilized to manufacture synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, synthetic plastics including polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as synthetic ethanol.

Ethylene also acts as a vital intermediate for the production of vinyl chloride, styrene, ethylene oxide, acetic acid, acetaldehyde, ethanol and explosive materials. Within plants, it forms naturally as a metabolite; it modulates plant growth by restraining vegetative development, inducing leaf fall and speeding up fruit maturation.

Under ambient conditions, ethylene is a colorless and combustible gas. Its melting point is -169°C and boiling point is -103.7°C. It is barely soluble in water, sparingly soluble in ethanol, and dissolves easily in ether and acetone.

Product Application of Ethylene

Ethylene stands as a crucial foundational feedstock for the organic chemical sector, mainly deployed to produce polyethylene, ethylene‑propylene rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other petrochemical derivatives. It ranks among the most significant building blocks across the petrochemical industry.

Within synthetic materials manufacturing, ethylene is extensively adopted for making polyethylene, vinyl chloride, PVC, ethylbenzene, styrene, polystyrene and ethylene‑propylene rubber. It also occupies a pivotal position in organic synthesis, acting as the starting material for ethanol, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, propionaldehyde, propionic acid and its derivatives, alongside numerous other indispensable organic chemical intermediates.