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: roughly from 2.5% to 81%. Reference data usually gives the autoignition temperature at about 305 °C. Acetylene compounds with copper or silver can 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
How much does 1 m³ of acetylene weigh?
Under normal conditions, 1 m³ of acetylene weighs about 1.17 kg. For accurate calculations, temperature and pressure must be taken into account because gas density changes noticeably with conditions.
Why is acetylene not stored like ordinary compressed gas?
Free acetylene can decompose explosively at elevated pressure. That is why cylinders store it dissolved in acetone or another solvent inside a porous filler.
Can this table be used for calculating an acetylene cylinder?
The table is suitable for an approximate gas weight under normal conditions. For cylinders, welding stations and safety decisions, use the cylinder passport, regulator data and official acetylene handling instructions.