Uses of acetylene

Ethyne (acetylene) has several important industrial and everyday uses. It is a key starting material for manufacturing ethanal (acetaldehyde), propanone (acetone) and ethanoic acid (acetic acid) -- each reachable through the addition reactions of section 15.3.4. It also serves as a monomer or feedstock for making polymers, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibres and plastics. Like ethene, it is used for the artificial ripening of fruits. Finally, burned as an oxy-acetylene flame (a carefully controlled mixtur …