1、From 1795 on, Ethylene (CAS NO.74-85-1) was referred as the olefiant gas (oil-making gas), because it combined with chlorine to produce the oil of the Dutch (1,2-dichloroethane). Ethylene was first synthesized in 1795 by a collaboration of four Dutch chemists.
2、In the mid-19th century, the suffix -ene (an Ancient Greek root added to the end of female names meaning "daughter of") was widely used to refer to a molecule or part thereof that contained one fewer hydrogen atoms than the molecule being modified.
3、The 1979 IUPAC nomenclature rules made an exception for retaining the non-systematic name ethylene, however, this decision was reversed in the 1993 rules so the correct name is now ethene.

 Ethylene (CAS NO.74-85-1) is reported in EPA TSCA Inventory. Community Right-To-Know List.

ACGIH TLV: Simple asphyxiant; Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen; (Proposed: 100 ppm; Not Classifiable as a Human Carcinogen)
DFG MAK: Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans
DOT Classification:  2.1; Label: Flammable Gas

Ethene, with the CAS registry number 74-85-1, is an organic compound with the formula C₂H₄. In addition, it has the EINECS registry number 200-815-3 with the IUPAC name of Ethene. Ethene is stable and highly flammable - note wide explosion limits. Besides, Ethene is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents which readily forms explosive mixtures with air. The substance is a colorless gas which is soluble in water, ethanol and diethyl ether.

Properties: Ethene has four hydrogen atoms bound to a pair of carbon atoms that are connected by a double bond, which is the most simple olefins. All six atoms that comprise Ethene are coplanar. The H-C-H angle is 119°, close to the 120°for ideal sp² hybridized carbon. Ethene may undergo a violent reaction in the presence of aluminum chloride. Ozone and Ethene react explosively. Ethene can polymerize at low pressure if catalyzed by titanium halides.

Production: In industry, Ethene is produced by catalytic dehydration of ethanol, steam cracking and separation of coke oven gas. Because of abundant resources of petroleum and natural gas, the cost of preparation of Ethene is very low. So Ethene is produced in the petrochemical industry by steam cracking. In this process, gaseous or light liquid hydrocarbons are heated to 750–950 °C, inducing numerous free radical reactions followed by immediate quench to stop these reactions. Ethene can also be produced in the laboratory by heating absolute ethanol with concentrated sulfuric acid.

Uses: Ethene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone. There are some major industrial reactions of Ethene: polymerization, oxidation, halogenation and hydrohalogenation, alkylation, hydration, oligomerization, and hydroformylation. Ethene is oxidized to produce ethylene oxide, which is the key raw material in the production of surfactants and detergents by ethoxylation. Ethene undergoes oxidation by palladium to give acetaldehyde.

Ethene can be used to form Ethene dichloride, ethyl chloride and Ethene dibromide via halogenation and hydrohalogenation. And these processes can be used in preparation of polyvinyl chloride, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, methyl chloroform, polyvinylidiene chloride and copolymers, and ethyl bromide.

The hydroformylation (oxo-reaction) of Ethene results in propionaldehyde, a precursor to propionic acid and n-propyl alcohol. It can also be used as an anesthetic agent, and to hasten fruit ripening, as well as a welding gas. Ethene is used to produce three chemical compounds, such as ethylene oxide, ethylene dichloride, and ethylbenzene—and a variety of kinds of polyethylene.

When you are using Ethene, you should be very cautious about it. Ethene is extremely flammable. Its vapour may cause drowsiness and dizziness. You should keep its container in a well-ventilated place and keep it away from sources of ignition - No smoking. When need, you can take precautionary measures against static discharges. If swallowed, you should seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label.

Descriptors computed from structure of Ethene:
(1)Canonical SMILES: C=C
(2)InChI: InChI=1S/C2H4/c1-2/h1-2H2
(3)InChIKey: VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Toxicity of Ethene: