Acetylene is one of the most dangerous flammable gases. Because of its molecular triple carbon bond it inherently has a great deal of stored energy able to be released either in a controlled process, such as welding and cutting, or in an uncontrolled fashion during decomposition.
It will burn in air with a very wide flammable range of between 2.3% and 82%, according to EIGA document 123. Significantly it can decompose in the absence of air so rapidly that it has been categorized in the past as a gaseous explosive and hence the upper limit of 82% is almost academic for practical purposes.
Use of certain metals with acetylene is forbidden e.g. copper and silver, as metallic acetylide compounds can be formed that are unstable and explosive.
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