Use
A gaseous alkene. Ethene is not normally present
in the gaseous fraction of crude oil but
can be obtained from heavier fractions by
catalytic cracking. This is the principal industrial
source. The compound is important
as a starting material in the
organic-chemicals industry (e.g. in the
manufacture of ethanol) and as the starting
material for the production of polyethene.
Ethene is the first member of the homologous
series of alkenes.