Updated 05-May-2020.
Mondo shtuff from around the internet, all about ACETYLENE!
My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: acetylene (systematic name: ethyne) is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2 . it is a colorless gas widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block the carbon–carbon triple bond places all four atoms in the same straight line . it was an accidental discovery while attempting to isolate potassium metal . rediscovered in 1860 by french chemist Marcellin Berthe Berthelot was able to prepare acetylene by passing vapours of organic compounds through a red-hot tube and collecting the effluent . he also found that methanol was formed by spark acetylene is a recovered side product in production of ethylene by cracking of hydrocarbons . Approximately 400,000 tonnes were produced by this method in 1983 . it is selectively hydrogenated into ethylene, acetylene is a linear symmetrical molecule, it possesses the Dh point group . the triple point corresponds to the melting point (80.8 °C) at the minimal pressure at which at temperatures below the triple point, solid acetylene can change directly to the vapour (gas) by sublimation . the solubility increases to 689.0 and 628.0 g for acetone Acetylene is the third-hottest natural chemical flame . it is the hottest burning common fuel gas . oxy-fuel welding has dropped significantly . bell canada cable-repair technicians still use portable acetylene-fuelled torch kits as a soldering tool for sealing lead sleeve splices in manholes and in some aerial carbide lamps were used extensively as headlights in early motor vehicles . acetylene can be semihydrogenated to ethylene, providing feedstock for polyethylene plastics . it is still used by mining industries polyacetylene was one of the first discovered organic semiconductors . its reaction with iodine produced a highly electrically conducting material . the carbonaceous material in an archeological sample is treated with lithium metal in a small specialized research furnace to form lithium carbide . the carbide can then be reacted with water to form acetylene natural acetylene is believed to form from catalytic decomposition of long-chain hydrocarbons at temperatures of 1,700 K (1,430 °C; 2,600 °F) and above . alcohols vinyl alcohol isomerizes to acetaldehyde; reaction catalyzed by mercury salts . hydration of acetylene is a vinylation reaction, but resulting vinyl alcohol 1,4-Butynediol is produced industrially in this way from formaldehyde and acetylene . form complexes with transition metals . acetylene is highly flammable, as are most light hydrocarbons, hence its use in welding . it can decompose explosively if the absolute pressure of the gas exceeds about 200 kilop acetylene is supplied and stored dissolved in acetone or dimethylformamide (DMF) contained in a gas cylinder with a porous filling (Agamassan) it renders Consideration may include electrical classification and use of listed Group A electrical components in USA . ATEX also requires consideration for hazardous areas where flammable gases may be released during accidents or leaks .