Ethylene (IUPAC name: ethene) is a gaseous organic compound with the formula C2H4. It is the simplest alkene (older name: olefin from its oil-forming property). Because it contains a carbon-carbon double bond, ethylene is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethylene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone. Ethylene is the most produced organic compound in the world; global production of ethylene exceeded 107 million tonnes in 2005. To meet the ever increasing demand for ethylene, sharp increases in production facilities are added globally, particularly in the Persian Gulf countries and in China.
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