ethylene
1 synonym for ethylene, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A colourless gas that is the simplest alkene, with the chemical formula C2H4, also known by its IUPAC name ethene.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
ethene
How to use ethylene
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
ethylene gas
ethylene glycol
release ethylene
ripen with ethylene
ethylene production
It is a chemistry term, common in scientific and agricultural writing rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
The name combines the element eth-, which points to the two-carbon ethane family of compounds, with the suffix -ylene used in naming this kind of chemical group.
Full origin of ethylene →Frequently asked questions
What is ethylene used for?
It is a key industrial chemical used to make plastics, and it also occurs naturally as a gas that ripens fruit.
Is ethylene the same as ethene?
Yes, ethylene is the common name for the compound whose official IUPAC name is ethene.
Is ethylene a gas or a liquid?
At normal room temperature and pressure it is a colourless gas.
