1. Ethylene

Chemical Symbol: C₂H₄
Synonyms: Ethene

Description

Ethylene is a colorless, flammable gas with a sweet and musty odor. It is nontoxic and has been used for anesthetic purposes. Ethylene reacts by addition to give saturated paraffins or derivatives of paraffin hydrocarbons.

Uses

Ethylene is used in the production of ethyl, benzene, ethanol, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol and ethylene dichloride. It is also used when manufacturing polyethylene plastics. In addition, it is used when producing ethyl chloride, dichloromethane, vinyl chloride, ethyl ether, methyl acrylate and styrene. The gas can also be used as a refrigerant and a fuel for cutting and welding of metal. It used to be used as an anesthetic. Sometimes it is also used for plant growth and fruit ripening.

2. Nitrogen

Chemical Symbol: N₂
Synonyms: LIN

Description

Nitrogen is colorless, odorless, tasteless, nontoxic, inert and represents 78.08 percent of the atmosphere. Nitrogen is nonflammable and does not support combustion. It is slightly soluble in water and most other liquids. Nitrogen does not conduct heat and electricity well.

Uses

Nitrogen has a wide range of uses. As a gas it is used for heat treatment, blanketing of oxygen sensitive liquids, production of semiconductor electronic components, blowing of foam type plastic, food processing and packing, inhibition of aerobic bacteria growth and magnesium reduction of aluminum scrap. It is also used for pressurizing aircraft tires and emergency bottles to operate landing gear, as well as purging of air-conditioners, refrigerators, electronic devices, high-voltage compression cables and pipelines.

Liquid nitrogen is used for freezing of perishable foods, deflashing of rubber tires, cooling of concrete, cooling of electronic equipment, pulverizing plastics and simulating the conditions in outer space. Furthermore, liquid nitrogen can be used for freezing of liquids in pipelines for emergencies, low temperature stabilization and hardening of metals, preservation of blood, sperm and other biologicals and refrigeration of foods, as well as in missile and space programs.