Difference between butylene and ethylene

In the chemical industry, butene (C4H6) and ethylene (C2H4) are two very important olefins, and they have significant differences in molecular structure, physical properties and industrial applications. An in-depth understanding of their differences will help to better understand the preparation and application of polyolefins.

1. molecular structure is different

Comparison of 1.1 chemical structures Butene and ethylene have the formula C4H6 and C2H4, respectively, both of which are unsaturated hydrocarbons, but differ in carbon chain length and ring structure. Butene is a four-membered cyclopropane with a double bond structure and a ring structure in the molecule; while ethylene is a binary double bond hydrocarbon with a structural formula of CH2 = CH2. Butene has a larger molecular weight and a more complex molecular structure.

1,2 sub-type and structural characteristics In the molecular formula of butene, the number of carbon atoms is 4, the number of hydrogen atoms is 6, and the molecular formula is C4H6; the molecular formula of ethylene is C2H4. The molecular formula of butene can be regarded as twice that of ethylene, I .e. the molecular formula of butene is twice that of ethylene. This relationship is also reflected in the structure, and butene can be regarded as a structure formed by two ethylene molecules connected by a double bond.

2. Physical Properties Comparison

2.1 melting point and boiling point Butene has a melting point of -103.6°C and a boiling point of -33.6°C, which is relatively low. Ethylene has a melting point of -102°C and a boiling point of -10°C. Ethylene is slightly more stable than butene in terms of melting and boiling points. The low boiling point of butene makes it volatile at room temperature, while the higher boiling point of ethylene makes it more stable at room temperature.

2.2 density and state Under standard conditions, the density of butene is 1.234g/L and the density of ethylene is 1.124g/L. The density of butene is slightly higher than that of ethylene, but there is not much difference between the two densities. Due to the difference in boiling point between the two, ethylene is in a gaseous state at room temperature, while butene is in a gaseous or liquid form, depending on the temperature.

1.3 at room temperature state **

At normal temperature, ethylene usually exists in the form of gas, while butene exists in the form of gas or liquid at normal temperature, depending on the temperature. Butene will condense into liquid below -33.6 ℃, while ethylene will condense into liquid below -10 ℃.

3. industrial application comparison

Application of 3.1 Polymerization The main industrial applications of butene and ethylene are related to polymerization reactions. Ethylene is the basis of polyethylene and is widely used in the production of plastics, films, ube and other materials. Butene, on the other hand, is the basis of polypropylene and is commonly used in the production of fibers, pipes and films. The polymerization characteristics of butene make it have an important position in the production of high-performance materials.

3.2 environmental protection and performance differences In terms of environmental protection, the production process of ethylene is relatively environmentally friendly, while the production process of butene involves higher energy consumption. The high density of butene and its ease of polymerization at high temperatures make it advantageous in the development of high-performance and functional materials.

4. stability analysis

4.1 thermal stability Butene is easily polymerized at high temperatures, unlike ethylene. Ethylene can be polymerized at room temperature, while butene needs to be heated to start polymerization. This difference in thermal stability has an important impact on their industrial applications.

4.2 reactivity The reaction activity of butene is high, especially in the light condition, the polymerization reaction is easy to occur, while the reaction activity of ethylene is relatively low. Butene is easier to polymerize under high temperature and high pressure conditions, which gives it a unique advantage in the development of high-performance materials and functional materials.

5. summary

There are significant differences between butene and ethylene in molecular structure, physical properties and industrial applications. Butene, as a four-membered cyclopropane, has a higher molecular weight and stability, while ethylene, as a two-membered double bond hydrocarbon, has a lower molecular weight and higher stability. In industrial applications, butene is mainly used in the production of high-performance materials, while ethylene is mainly used in the production of basic materials. Understanding the difference between the two will help to make better use of their characteristics and develop more high quality chemical products.