The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Ethyne, or acetylene, has the chemical formula CH2CH2, with a triple bond between the two carbons. It is the simplest member of the alkynes. At standard temperature and pressure, ethyne is a colorless gas with a pleasant smell. It is virtually insoluble in water. Both the gas and liquid forms of ethyne are very explosive. Ethyne burns with a very sooty flame, showing its high percentage of carbon content.
Traditionally, the manufacture of ethyne has been by the controlled action of water on calcium carbide, and this reaction has been used to provide the acetylene that is burned by gas miners' and cavers' lamps. This method of production is still used although oxidation of methane, pyrolysis of alkanes, and cracking of hydrocarbons are more commonly encountered. Ethyne essentially does not naturally occur.
Ethyne is mixed with oxygen to produce a hot flame in oxy acetylene welding. It is also used as a starting point in the manufacture of many organic compounds. Poly vinyl chloride (PVC), various other plastics, and ethanal (acetaldehyde) are the most important.
In common with other unsaturated hydrocarbons, the triple bond can be broken down with the addition of hydrogen, or a number of metals, to produce the appropriate metal salt. The properties of ethyne are typical of the alkynes, and very similar to those of the alkenes due to the unsaturated nature of the bond between the carbons.