Simplest olefin (CH 2 CH 2 ), a colourless, flammable gas with a sweetish taste and odour.
The petrochemical having the highest volume, it occurs in petroleum and natural gas but is usually produced by heating higher hydrocarbon s (usually ethane and ethane-propane mixtures). Ethylene is polymerized to catalysis . It reacts with numerous other chemicals to produce ethanol , solvents, gasoline additives, {{link=antifreeze">antifreeze , detergents, and various plastics. In plants, ethylene is a hormone that inhibits growth and promotes leaf fall and fruit ripening.