General Description:

Classified as an alkene, ethene (or ethylene) is an unsaturated hydrocarbon containing one double carbon-carbon bond. It is composed of two hydrogens attached to each carbon molecule, thus allowing for one double bond between the carbons. Alkenes are also refered to as "olefins" due to their oil-forming characteristics. The location of the double bond determines the reactivity site, or functional group property. Alkenes are commonly used in synthesis reactions.

The smallest of the alkenes, ethene (ethylene), is a plant hormone which controls growth, seed germination, and fruit development. Other alkenes function as pheromones for insect communication including sex, alarm, and trail pheromones.
 

Properties:
 
 

Pressure, psia	14.7	100	500
Temperature, F	60	200	300
Compressibility, (Z)	0.994	0.980	0.940
Enthalpy, Btu/lb (h)	159.0	211.2	246.6
Entropy, Btu/lb-R (s)	1.792	1.746	1.687
Specific Heat, Btu/mol-R(Cp)	0.363	0.431	0.503
k, (Cp/Cv)	1.242	1.196	1.164
Sonic velocity, ft/sec	1067	1170	1216
Specific volume, ft3/lb	13.4	2.47	0.546
Dynamic viscosity, lb/ft-sec	6.528E-06	8.168E-06	1.00E-05

 
 

Sources:

1) Gas Flex, Flexware, Inc., Grapeville, PA, USA
2) Organic Chemistry, Paula Yurkanis Bruice, University of California, Prentice Hall, NJ, 1998
3) General Chemistry, Darrell D. Ebbing, Wayne State University, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996