Ethene (C₂H₄)
Ethene, commonly referred to as ethylene, is the simplest member of the alkene family, identifiable by its molecular formula C₂H₄. This compound features a double bond between two carbon atoms, which distinguishes it from alkanes that only contain single bonds. Ethene is primarily produced by the dehydration of ethanol using concentrated sulfuric acid followed by hydrolysis. The chemical reaction can be summarized as:
C₂H₅OH (ethanol) Concentrated H₂SO₄, heat C₂H₄ (ethene) + H₂O (water).
This process highlights the importance of ethene in organic synthesis and industrial applications, such as the production of polyethylene and various chemicals.