Acetylene specific weight: weight of 1 m³ and table
Acetylene gas was discovered in 1836 by chemist Edmund Davy. Later, French chemist Marcellin Berthelot obtained acetylene by several methods and established the modern name.
The bright and hot acetylene flame was once used in lamps, carbide lamps and autonomous light sources. Later, its main applications became welding, metal cutting and chemical synthesis.
Properties of acetylene
In Soviet times, acetylene was used on construction sites by mixing calcium carbide with water. The unpleasant smell that accompanied the process was caused by ammonia and hydrogen sulfide impurities in technical carbide. Pure acetylene itself is:
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a gas with a weak ether-like odor,
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with a slight sweetish taste,
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lighter than air,
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low-toxic.
The table below shows the main values of density, molar mass and the weight of one liter of acetylene gas under normal conditions.
| Substance | Chemical formula | Specific weight, kg/m³ | Density, g/cm³ | Weight of 1 liter, g | Molar mass, g/mol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetylene | C₂H₂ | 1.17 | 0.00117 | 1.17 | 26.038 |
Under normal conditions, acetylene is a colorless gas. At strong cooling, it becomes liquid and then solid.
A special characteristic that largely determines the rules for using acetylene is its increased explosion hazard under a number of conditions, including heating, increased pressure and contact with some metals.
A mixture of air, and especially oxygen, with acetylene is explosive over a wide concentration range: from 2.8% to 81%. At 335 °C, the gas self-ignites. Acetylene compounds with copper or silver explode from impact.
When pressure increases, free acetylene becomes especially dangerous and can decompose with an explosion even from a small ignition source. Therefore, it is not stored as an ordinary compressed gas.
To reduce the danger, acetylene is stored and transported in special cylinders with a porous filler, where the gas is dissolved in acetone or another suitable solvent.
Applications
Acetylene is one of the most important hydrocarbons that actively enter chemical bonds. The use of the gas is quite broad:
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fuel for gas cutting and welding of metal,
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production of solvents by adding chlorine and chlorine-derived substances; removal of hydrogen chloride gives a high-quality solvent suitable for dry-cleaning fabrics,
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production of polyvinyl chloride, including wire insulation, artificial leather, pipes and other products,
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production of other polymers needed to create plastics, various rubber compounds and synthetic fibers,
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creation of explosives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the density of acetylene be used for precise calculations?
The density and weight values for acetylene in this article are reference values. They are suitable for preliminary estimates, but design, construction, production and other critical calculations should be checked against standards, material datasheets or measurement results.
Why can the actual weight of acetylene differ from the table?
The actual weight of acetylene depends on composition, moisture, temperature, porosity, fraction size, material grade and measurement conditions. Because of this, real values may differ from the average table data.
How do you calculate the mass of acetylene from density?
For an approximate calculation, use the formula: mass = density × volume. If the density of acetylene is given in kg/m³ and the volume is in m³, the result will be in kilograms.