CHEMISTRY GUIDE

This page looks at the manufacture of epoxyethane from ethene, and then at some of the products that are made from epoxyethane. The manufacture of epoxyethane Conditions Temperature: about 250 - 300°C Pressure: about 15 atmospheres Catalyst: silver Problems and hazards during manufacture The main problem comes in controlling the temperature. The reaction is exothermic and so the temperature will tend to rise unless it is carefully controlled. At higher temperatures the ethene burns in the oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water which means that the temperature would increase even more - and the whole thing get completely out of hand! Two hazards during manufacture come from the nature of epoxyethane. It is poisonous and carcinogenic (c...