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Acetylene

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 219 Accesses

Synonyms

Ethyne, HCCH

Definition

Acetylene is the simplest alkyne (hydrocarbons that have a triple bond between two carbon atoms, with the formula CnH2n−2). Under standard conditions in the laboratory, it is a colorless but unstable gas. Because of its symmetry, linear of the form HCCH, it lacks a permanent electric dipole moment and hence has no allowed pure rotational transitions, making it undetectable at millimeter wavelengths. Astronomers have observed its vibrational transitions in the infrared, in both molecular clouds and in the envelopes of evolved stars. It is an important link in the chemistry of heavier carbon chain molecules and related species in these regions. Acetylene is also found as a minor component in the atmospheres of gas giants like the planet Jupiter, in the atmosphere of Saturn’s satellite Titan, and in comets.

History

Acetylene was discovered in 1836 by Edmund Davy and then rediscovered in 1860 by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, who coined the name...

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References and Further Reading

  • Brooke TY, Tokunaga AT, Weaver HA, Crovisier J, Bockelée-Morvan D, Crisp D (1996) Detection of acetylene in the infrared spectrum of comet Hyakutake. Nature 383:606–608

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  • Hartquist TW, Williams DA (1995) The chemically controlled cosmos. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

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  • Lacy JH, Evans NJ II, Achtermann JM, Bruce DE, Arens JF, Carr JS (1989) Discovery of interstellar acetylene. Astrophys J 342:L43–L46

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Lederle Graduate Research Tower B 619E, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9305, USA

    William M. Irvine

Authors
  1. William M. Irvine
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to William M. Irvine .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Irvine, W.M. (2014). Acetylene. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1824-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1824-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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