Ethylene (C2H4), also known as ethene, is a colorless, highly flammable gas with a faint sweet and musky odor. It is the simplest alkene, widely used in the chemical industry for producing polyethylene, a common plastic, and other chemicals like ethylene glycol and ethanolamines. Ethylene is also a natural plant hormone used in agriculture to induce fruit ripening and control freshness. Its high flammability and ability to form explosive mixtures with air require careful handling and storage as a compressed gas. Ethylene is primarily produced through steam cracking of hydrocarbons like ethane, emitting significant greenhouse gases during production. It is considered a combustible asphyxiant but is not classified as carcinogenic in humans.
