Overview

Acetylene (uh-SET-ill-ene) is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of two carbon atoms joined to each other by a triple bond with their associated hydrogen atoms. It occurs as a colorless gas with a sweet odor when pure, but an unpleasant odor due to the presence of phosphine (PH₃) and/or arsine (AsH₃), with which it is often contaminated. Acetylene is a highly flammable gas that is also somewhat explosive. This property accounts for one of its most important uses, in torches that burn at very high temperatures.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Ethyne; ethine

Formula:

CH=CH

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen

Compound Type:

Alkyne (unsaturated hydrocarbon; organic)

State:

Gas

Molecular Weight:

26.04 g/mol

Melting Point:

−80.8°C (−113°F)

Boiling Point:

−84°C (−120°F)

Solubility:

Slightly soluble in water and alcohol; soluble in acetone and benzene

Acetylene was discovered by the British chemist Edmund Davy (1785–1857) in 1836. Davy obtained the gas accidentally when he...