Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
OLEFINS:
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
H
2
CH
3
CH
3
ethane
Cl
2
CH
2
ClCH
2
Cl
ethylene dichloride
O
Ag
H
OCH
2
CH
2
OH
O
2
CH
2
CH
2
ethylene oxide
ethylene glycol
CH
2
=C H
2
+
CH
3
CH
2
OSO
2
OH
HOSO
2
OH
sulfuric acid
H
2
O
CH
3
CH
2
OH
+ HOSO
2
OH
ethyl alcohol
catalyst
x
CH
2
=CH
2
[CH
2
CH
2
]
x
+1
polyethylene
Olefins are very reactive compounds and, thus, are the starting materials for
many products of the chemical industry. Shown above are some typical
reactions for ethylene. Other olefins undergo similar reactions. The C
4
olefins
recovered in petroleum refineries are used to make synthetic rubber, gasoline
additives, plastics, and textile fibers.
