D defs.my
Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913

Ethylene

/(ĕth"ĭl*ēn)/ · Eth·yl·ene · IPA /ˈɛθɪˌliːn/
01 n. A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of concentrate…
  1. 1.
    A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of concentrated sulphuric acid in alcohol. It is an unsaturated compound and combines directly with chlorine and bromine to form oily liquids (Dutch liquid), -- hence called olefiant gas. Called also ethene, elayl, and formerly, bicarbureted hydrogen.(Chem.) Also: olefiant gas, ethene, elayl, bicarbureted hydrogen
Phrases & compounds
Ethylene series — the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the type, and represented by the general formula CnH2n.