A colorless gas made of two carbon atoms double-bonded together with four hydrogen atoms, also called ethylene, used to ripen fruit and make plastics.
From ethyl + -ene (double bond indicator). The systematic name 'ethene' emphasizes the double bond between carbons, while the common name 'ethylene' comes from ether + -ylene.
Ethene is the most produced organic chemical in the world by far—it's transformed into polyethylene plastic (the bags you carry groceries in), and it's also a plant hormone that ripens bananas and avocados!
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