Ethylene

C₂H₄
CAS Number 74-85-1
UN1962 (gas)
UN1038 (refrigerated liquid)

Molecule
Properties
Applications
Safety & Compatibility
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Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate the volume or mass of a quantity of gas or liquid

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Gas Phase

In standard conditions (1.013 bar, 15°C)

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Physical Properties

Download the set of data (XLS - 108.14 KB)

General Properties
Solid Phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

Molecule phase diagram showing the transition phases between solid, liquid and gas as a function of temperature and pressure

Pressure (bar)

- Molar mass 28.050 g/mol
- Content in dry air /
Critical Point
- Temperature 9.19 °C
- Pressure 50.41 bar
- Density 214.15 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -169.16 °C
- Pressure 1.22E-3 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	119.45 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 169.15 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 103.77 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	482.41 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	567.65 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.9247E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2651
Gas density (at boiling point)	2.087 kg/m³
Gas density	1.2608 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	450.23 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.459 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.1533 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	0.98
Specific volume	7.932E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	17.369 mW/(m.K)
Vapor pressure	41.0148 bar
Viscosity	9.4697E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9361E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2535
Gas density	1.1938 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	475.5 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.5048 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.2008 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	0.98
Specific volume	8.377E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	19.099 mW/(m.K)
Viscosity	9.98E-5 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9426E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.2461
Gas density	1.153 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	492.32 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.5375 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	1.2338 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	0.98
Specific volume	8.676E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	20.326 mW/(m.K)
Viscosity	1.0318E-4 Po

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Chemicals

In term of quantity produced, ethylene is the most important organic chemical. Ethylene is the feedstock in the manufacture of the most important polymer: polyethylene. It is also converted to ethylene oxide, it is a precursor to ethylene glycol, ethylbenzene, styrene and to various kinds of polyethylene, to ethylene dichloride and to vinyl chloride.

Food

Ethylene is used to stimulate and regulate the ripening of various fruits, such as tomatoes and bananas.

Metal fabrication

Ethylene is used in oxycutting.

Safety & Compatibility

Major Hazards
Material Compatibility

GHS02

Flammable

GHS04

Gas under pressure

GHS07

Health hazards

Autoignition Temperature, Flammability Limits & Flash Point

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (Chemsafe)	440 °C
Lower flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	2.4 vol%
Upper flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	32.6 vol%

US (according to ASTM E681 for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (NFPA 325)	450 °C
Lower flammability limit (NFPA 325)	2.7 vol%
Upper flammability limit (NFPA 325)	36 vol%

Odor

Sweet

Metals

Aluminium	Satisfactory
Brass	Satisfactory
Monel	No data
Copper	No data
Ferritic Steel	Satisfactory
Stainless steel	Satisfactory
Zinc	No data
Titanium	No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride	Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride	Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene	No data
Polycarbonate	No data
Polyamide	Satisfactory
Polypropylene	Satisfactory

Elastomers

Butyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber	Satisfactory
Nitrile rubber	Satisfactory
Chloroprene	Swelling Not recommended
Chlorofluorocarbons	No data
Silicone	Significant swelling Not recommended
Perfluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers	Satisfactory
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene	Significant swelling Not recommended

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory
Fluorocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

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More information

Ethylene activity as a plant hormon stimulating ripening was discovered in 1901 by a Russian scientist named Dimitry Neljubowas. However in Egypt and China, the principle has been used for thousands of years.