Some of the most essentail uses of Ethyne are: - 1. Acetylene is used as the basic material for making many other organic compounds such as acetic acid, acetaldehyde, acrylic acid, etc. 2. For illumination as in hawker’s lamps. 3. For producing oxy-acetylene flame used in cutting and welding of iron.
Ethyne (acetylene) is generally prepared in a laboratory by the action of water on calcium carbide. A thin layer of sand is spread atomic the bottom of a conical flask. A few small pieces of calcium carbide (CaC2) are placed over the sand.
Some important physical properties of ethyne (acetylene) are given below:- Ethyne (acetylene) is a color less gas with ether-like odour when pure. Ethyne prepared from calcium carbide has garlic odour due to the presence of impurities like phosphine (PH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S).