noun
- a colorless, flammable gas produced naturally by plants and used industrially in the manufacture of plastics, chemicals, and other products
Usage: chemistry; also called ethene
Examples
- Ethylene is one of the most important chemicals in the petrochemical industry.
- Plants produce ethylene naturally to regulate growth and ripening.
- Bananas release ethylene gas as they ripen, which speeds up the ripening of nearby fruit.
- The chemical formula for ethylene is Câ‚‚Hâ‚„.
- Ethylene is used to manufacture polyethylene plastic, the most common plastic in the world.
- Fruit sellers sometimes use ethylene to control the ripening of produce in storage.