ethylene oxide

noun

, Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, gaseous, toxic, ring compound, C 2 H 4 O, usually obtained by the oxidation of ethylene: used chiefly in the synthesis of ethylene glycol.

First recorded in 1895–1900

One drawback, common to both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, is toxicity.

Propylene oxide is less toxic than ethylene oxide but is still highly toxic.

Left alone in a fuel air explosive weapon or other container, ethylene oxide tends to self polymerize.

Unpolymerized ethylene oxide, on the 50 other hand is highly desirable as a fuel insofar as detonability is concerned.

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

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