Question

Acetylene gas is stored in a cylinder in which form?

Answer 1

Acetylene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon with the formula ${{C}_{2}}{{H}_{2}}$. Lower hydrocarbons are generally gaseous in nature, so acetylene is also called Acetylene gas. However, in the gaseous form, they are quite unstable, so they cannot be stored in the form they exist in. Pure acetylene is gaseous and is very unstable so it is stored in the form of a solution.

Complete answer:
Acetylene is very reactive and flammable. It has the possibility of exploding if kept under more pressure when it reacts with oxygen. So storing gas in the cylinder is very risky. Due to its explosion capacity, pure acetylene cannot be compressed to a pressure of more than 0.1 Pa. Thus, it is delivered in the cylinders in the form of ‘dissolved acetylene’.
In a cylinder or container, Acetylene gas is kept in liquid form.
Acetylene is widely used as a fuel and for welding. It is stored in liquid acetone in a porous material like fire brick. This is done so that the pressure of the container does not rise. The high pressure is eliminated by the porous walls. Acetylene gas kept in acetone does not react with oxygen and hence does not decompose. Acetone is the most preferred liquid to keep the acetylene gas because it can dissolve a huge amount of acetylene gas without altering the pressure or nature of the gas.

Note:
Pure acetylene gas is odourless and colourless. It is, however, provided with a specific odour when used in the industry. Commercial acetylene gas contains impurities like divinyl sulphide and phosphine. Pure acetylene cannot be used for commercial purposes.