OLEFIANT GAS Meaning and
Definition
-
Olefiant gas, also known as ethene or ethylene, is a colorless, flammable gas that consists of two carbon atoms and four hydrogen atoms, with a chemical formula of C2H4. It is one of the simplest and most important unsaturated hydrocarbons.
In terms of its physical properties, olefiant gas is odorless at low concentrations but possesses a slightly sweet and unpleasant smell at higher concentrations. It is highly combustible and can form explosive mixtures when combined with air. It is soluble in various organic solvents and less soluble in water.
Olefiant gas is primarily produced through the cracking of crude oil, natural gas, or certain hydrocarbon compounds. It is an integral building block in the petrochemical industry and is used as a raw material for the manufacturing of numerous important chemicals, such as polyethylene, vinyl chloride monomer, ethylene oxide, and many others.
Due to its versatility and wide range of applications, olefiant gas is utilized in various industrial sectors. It is commonly employed in the production of plastics, synthetic fibers, detergents, solvents, antifreeze, and as a refrigerant. Additionally, it is used in fruit ripening, welding, and as a fuel in some instances.
Despite its significant industrial importance, olefiant gas can be hazardous if mishandled, as it is highly flammable and may cause respiratory irritation or asphyxia in high concentrations. Proper safety measures should always be followed when working with or around olefiant gas.
-
Ethylene, C2H4, the main constituent of illuminating gas.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for OLEFIANT GAS
- ilefiant gas
- klefiant gas
- llefiant gas
- plefiant gas
- 0lefiant gas
- 9lefiant gas
- okefiant gas
- opefiant gas
- ooefiant gas
- olwfiant gas
- olsfiant gas
- oldfiant gas
- olrfiant gas
- ol4fiant gas
- ol3fiant gas
- olediant gas
- oleciant gas
- oleviant gas
- olegiant gas
- oletiant gas
Etymology of OLEFIANT GAS
The word "olefiant gas" comes from the French term "gaz oléfiant", which translates to "oil-making gas" or "oil-producing gas".
The term was coined by the French chemist Jean-Baptiste Dumas and his collaborator Eugène-Melchior Péligot in the early 19th century. They discovered this gas, known today as ethylene, while conducting experiments on the distillation of "heavy oil" (petroleum) derived from certain sources.
They named it "gaz oléfiant" because they observed that this gas had the ability to condense into an oily liquid when mixed with chlorine gas, hence the association with oil production. The term "oléfiant" comes from the Latin "oleum" for "oil" and "facere" meaning "to make" or "to produce".
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
