Chem. [f. ETH-YL + -ENE.] A fatty hydrocarbon, C2 H4, forming the second member of the series Cn H2n: known also as Ethylene, Olefiant Gas, or Heavy Carburetted Hydrogen. Also attrib., as in Ethene bromide, chloride, iodide, etc.
1873. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., 554. Ethene is formed by the action of nascent hydrogen upon ethine or acetylene. Ibid., 619. Ethene Iodide is a colourless, crystalline, volatile substance, of penetrating odour. Ibid. (1877), II. 56. Ethene … is most easily prepared by heating strong alcohol with three or four times its weight of strong sulphuric acid.
