Ethylene

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    74-85-1

    Molecular formula
    C2H4

    SMILES
    C=C

    Safety labels

    Flammable
    Flammable

    Compressed Gas
    Compressed Gas

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Odorless 52.64%
    Pungent 52.47%
    Gassy 45.89%
    Ethereal 33.89%
    Sharp 32.09%
    Alliaceous 27.82%
    Fruity 25.88%
    Garlic 18.8%
    Burnt 14.51%
    Sulfurous 14.12%

     

    Flavor
    Pungent 36.88%
    Garlic 28.22%
    Rotten 25.88%
    Egg 23.27%
    Mustard 22.6%
    Sulfur 21.09%
    Decomposing cabbage 19.76%
    Formyl 19.24%
    Odorless 17.52%
    Mousy 16.97%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

    Odor threshold

    • Odor Threshold Low: 17.0 [ppm]. Odor Threshold High: 959.0 [ppm]. [ACGIH] Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 270 ppm)
    • Odor Index at 20 °C = 57,100
    • Detection in air by odor (purity not specified) 2.60x10+2 ppm.

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    1.2

    pKa est.
    9.55 (weak base)

    Molecular weight
    28.05 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra fast

    Melting point expt.

    • -272.4 °F (USCG, 1999)
    • -169.18 °C
    • -169 °C
    • -169.2 °C
    • -272.4 °F

    Boiling point

    • -154.7 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
    • -103.8 °C
    • BP: -102.4 °C at 700 mm Hg
    • -104 °C
    • -154.7 °F

    Flash point

    • -102.24 ˚C est.
    • -213 °F (approx.) (USCG, 1999)
    • -213 °F
    • -100 °C (-148 °F) - closed cup
    • Flammable gas
    • -213 °F (approx)

    Solubility expt.

    • In water, 131 mg/L at 25 °C
    • Slightly soluble in water
    • 1 volume dissolves in about 4 volumes water at 0 °C, in about 9 volumes water at 25 °C, in about 0.5 volumes alcohol at 25 °C, in about 0.05 volumes ether at 15.5 °C
    • Very soluble in ethanol, ether; soluble in acetone acid, benzene
    • Soluble in acetone, benzene
    • 0.131 mg/mL at 25 °C
    • Solubility in water, mg/l at 25 °C: 131 (very slightly soluble)

  • Synonyms

    • ETHYLENE
    • Ethene
    • Acetene
    • Elayl
    • Olefiant gas
    • 74-85-1
    • Athylen
    • Etileno
    • Bicarburretted hydrogen
    • Liquid ethylene
    • Ethylene, pure
    • Caswell No. 436
    • Aethylen
    • Aethen
    • HSDB 168
    • C2H4
    • EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 041901
    • Liquid ethyene
    • EINECS 200-815-3
    • CH2=CH2
    • H2C=CH2
    • Ethylene (8CI)
    • Ethylene, compressed
    • UNII-91GW059KN7
    • DTXSID1026378
    • Ethene (9CI)
    • CHEBI:18153
    • 91GW059KN7
    • CARBONEUM HYDROGENISATUM
    • EC 200-815-3
    • MFCD00084423
    • UN 1038
    • UN 1962
    • ETHYLENE (TRANS-1,2-D2)
    • Plastipore
    • ETHYLENE (IARC)
    • ETHYLENE [IARC]
    • ETHYLENE (II)
    • ETHYLENE [II]
    • R-1150
    • Athylen [German]
    • LDPE
    • Eteno
    • Ethylene [NF]
    • UN1038
    • UN1962
    • cis-alkene
    • Ethene, 9CI
    • Ethylene-d3 (gas)
    • ETHYLENE-CMPD
    • ETHYLENE [HSDB]
    • ETHYLENE [MI]
    • Ethylene, 99.99%
    • ETHENE (ETHYLENE)
    • Heavy carburetted hydrogen
    • Ethylene, >=99.5%
    • Ethylene, compressed [UN1962] [Flammable gas]
    • CHEMBL117822
    • DTXCID605931
    • Ethylene, purum, >=99.9%
    • CMC_13849
    • AKOS015915514
    • CARBONEUM HYDROGENISATUM [HPUS]
    • Polyethylene, low density, 500 micron
    • USEPA/OPP Pesticide Code: 041901
    • Ethylene, Messer(R) CANGas, 99.98%
    • Ethylene, puriss., >=99.95% (GC)
    • NS00013981
    • NS00131932
    • C06547
    • C19503
    • C22504
    • Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid)
    • Ethylene, compressed [UN1962] [Flammable gas]
    • Q151313
    • Q27286698
    • Ethylene, refrigerated liquid (cryogenic liquid) [UN1038] [Flammable gas]
    • 200-815-3
    • 87701-65-3

  • Applications

    Ethylene (CAS 74-85-1) is a foundational industrial feedstock used to make polymers and a range of chemical intermediates. In polymers/plastics, it is polymerized to produce polyethylene grades (LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE) and copolymers for packaging, film, and molding. It is also transformed via ethylene oxide to yield ethylene glycol and nonionic surfactants, as well as polyether polyols for polyurethane and other ethoxylates used in detergents, cosmetics, and cleaners. As an intermediate, it is converted to ethylbenzene, which is dehydrogenated to styrene for polystyrene, vinyl plastics, and other materials. In agriculture, ethylene acts as a plant hormone to regulate ripening and flowering. Overall, ethylene serves as a versatile building block across materials manufacturing, consumer products, and crop production, subject to local regulations and formulation limits.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 284.34
    methanol 254.11
    isopropanol 200.32
    water 0.16
    ethyl acetate 224.38
    n-propanol 262.78
    acetone 350.33
    n-butanol 262.55
    acetonitrile 297.89
    DMF 330.3
    toluene 79.48
    isobutanol 169.42
    1,4-dioxane 287.56
    methyl acetate 210.71
    THF 531.54
    2-butanone 251.97
    n-pentanol 134.23
    sec-butanol 187.05
    n-hexane 112.72
    ethylene glycol 56.71
    NMP 370.09
    cyclohexane 183.28
    DMSO 493.54
    n-butyl acetate 461.01
    n-octanol 89.28
    chloroform 555.92
    n-propyl acetate 160.57
    acetic acid 338.65
    dichloromethane 542.2
    cyclohexanone 423.43
    propylene glycol 68.65
    isopropyl acetate 101.15
    DMAc 141.39
    2-ethoxyethanol 119.12
    isopentanol 160.75
    n-heptane 192.41
    ethyl formate 204.19
    1,2-dichloroethane 369.85
    n-hexanol 270.61
    2-methoxyethanol 247.9
    isobutyl acetate 81.03
    tetrachloromethane 160.17
    n-pentyl acetate 133.36
    transcutol 321.06
    n-heptanol 98.32
    ethylbenzene 46.58
    MIBK 76.32
    2-propoxyethanol 220.52
    tert-butanol 198.49
    MTBE 128.61
    2-butoxyethanol 123.56
    propionic acid 259.62
    o-xylene 42.37
    formic acid 59.92
    diethyl ether 232.28
    m-xylene 40.44
    p-xylene 60.58
    chlorobenzene 202.15
    dimethyl carbonate 59.34
    n-octane 49.08
    formamide 101.06
    cyclopentanone 532.25
    2-pentanone 198.65
    anisole 85.21
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 217.3
    gamma-butyrolactone 615.49
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 154.1
    pyridine 377.42
    3-pentanone 146.42
    furfural 411.58
    n-dodecane 23.37
    diethylene glycol 119.17
    diisopropyl ether 52.78
    tert-amyl alcohol 157.74
    acetylacetone 162.4
    n-hexadecane 26.16
    acetophenone 85.95
    methyl propionate 155.39
    isopentyl acetate 249.91
    trichloroethylene 569.4
    n-nonanol 74.08
    cyclohexanol 226.34
    benzyl alcohol 75.07
    2-ethylhexanol 189.56
    isooctanol 73.42
    dipropyl ether 291.47
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 169.35
    ethyl lactate 56.2
    propylene carbonate 319.56
    n-methylformamide 218.44
    2-pentanol 153.55
    n-pentane 113.7
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 238.47
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 155.27
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 78.54
    mesitylene 26.96
    ε-caprolactone 327.4
    p-cymene 69.55
    epichlorohydrin 412.5
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 329.95
    2-aminoethanol 105.47
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 247.8
    sulfolane 598.89
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 25.12
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 406.35
    n-hexyl acetate 157.4
    isooctane 20.44
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 124.57
    sec-butyl acetate 75.52
    tert-butyl acetate 88.23
    decalin 36.15
    glycerin 80.62
    diglyme 243.95
    acrylic acid 220.3
    isopropyl myristate 67.56
    n-butyric acid 376.0
    acetyl acetate 125.18
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 46.25
    ethyl propionate 117.02
    nitromethane 398.3
    1,2-diethoxyethane 227.59
    benzonitrile 169.58
    trioctyl phosphate 49.53
    1-bromopropane 329.67
    gamma-valerolactone 421.08
    n-decanol 56.33
    triethyl phosphate 74.84
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 61.73
    propionitrile 267.23
    vinylene carbonate 257.95
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 289.66
    DMS 89.37
    cumene 30.9
    2-octanol 68.01
    2-hexanone 155.12
    octyl acetate 84.21
    limonene 135.06
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 238.66
    ethyl orthosilicate 75.72
    tributyl phosphate 66.65
    diacetone alcohol 103.19
    N,N-dimethylaniline 51.43
    acrylonitrile 302.85
    aniline 124.76
    1,3-propanediol 173.5
    bromobenzene 196.18
    dibromomethane 471.88
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 404.5
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 129.58
    tetrabutyl urea 88.89
    diisobutyl methanol 102.95
    2-phenylethanol 116.98
    styrene 75.0
    dioctyl adipate 88.55
    dimethyl sulfate 88.66
    ethyl butyrate 252.99
    methyl lactate 71.44
    butyl lactate 98.89
    diethyl carbonate 137.07
    propanediol butyl ether 90.43
    triethyl orthoformate 149.45
    p-tert-butyltoluene 63.03
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 68.99
    morpholine 358.9
    tert-butylamine 156.46
    n-dodecanol 46.44
    dimethoxymethane 165.0
    ethylene carbonate 208.28
    cyrene 71.18
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 123.52
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 222.95
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 163.92
    4-methylpyridine 274.71
    dibutyl ether 193.85
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 102.95
    DEF 205.87
    dimethyl isosorbide 155.82
    tetrachloroethylene 318.4
    eugenol 76.55
    triacetin 90.41
    span 80 110.2
    1,4-butanediol 53.27
    1,1-dichloroethane 339.37
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 93.0
    methyl formate 166.21
    2-methyl-1-butanol 160.46
    n-decane 40.65
    butyronitrile 303.35
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 93.33
    1-chlorooctane 98.01
    1-chlorotetradecane 39.5
    n-nonane 48.67
    undecane 29.68
    tert-butylcyclohexane 31.64
    cyclooctane 53.55
    cyclopentanol 280.44
    tetrahydropyran 409.56
    tert-amyl methyl ether 93.64
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 146.91
    1-hexene 207.43
    2-isopropoxyethanol 70.1
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 86.12
    methyl butyrate 188.75

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction