A chemical compound with a rich history and a wide range of practical applications, acetylene boasts a range of unique properties making it both an essential tool for welding and cutting, as well as a dangerous substance that requires careful handling.
But acetylene is more than just a tool of the trades – it has also played a significant role in the world of chemistry, from being the first compound to be synthesised from its elements to its role in the development of organic chemistry. But what makes this gas so special?
First used in 1906 for welding and cutting metals, acetylene has the reputation of being the most efficient of all the fuel gases. A highly versatile gas, its controllable reactivity also makes it valuable to the chemical industry for its synthetic potential.
Colourless and with a distinctive garlic-like odour, acetylene was discovered independently by two scientists during the 1800s and has since become an essential industrial gas fundamental to many industries.
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