What is the Difference Between Ethylene Dichloride and Ethylidene Chloride

The key difference between ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride is that ethylene dichloride has two chlorine atoms bound to two carbon atoms of the ethylene chemical structure, whereas ethylidene chloride contains two chlorine atoms bound to the same carbon atom.

Ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride are two organic compounds having an ethylene chemical structure with two chlorine atoms replacing two hydrogen atoms. Ethylene dichloride is also named 1,2-dichloroethane. Ethylidene chloride is an organic compound having the chemical name 1,1-dichloroethane.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ethylene Dichloride
3. What is Ethylidene Chloride 
4. Ethylene Dichloride vs Ethylidene Chloride in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ethylene Dichloride vs Ethylidene Chloride 

What is Ethylene Dichloride?

Ethylene dichloride is also known as 1,2-dichloroethane. It has a chemical structure similar to that of an ethylene compound, with two hydrogen atoms bound to the two carbon atoms replaced by two chlorine atoms. Therefore, we can describe it as a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Ethylene dichloride is a colourless liquid having a chloroform-like odour.

A large amount of ethylene dichloride is produced annually for its important uses. The most common production method is the catalyzed reaction (iron(II) chloride is the catalyst) between ethylene and chlorine. We can also produce this substance by the catalyzed reaction (copper(II) chloride) of oxychlorination of ethylene.

The important applications of ethylene dichloride include vinyl chloride monomer production, as a degreaser, as a paint remover, as a source of chlorine for laboratory uses, useful in dry cleaning, as an anti-knock additive in leaded fuels, etc.

What is Ethylidene Chloride?

Ethylidene chloride is an organic compound having the chemical name 1,1-dichloroethane. It is a chlorinated hydrocarbon compound. It has two chlorine atoms bound to the same carbon atom of the ethylene structure, where two hydrogen atoms from the same carbon atom are replaced by chlorine atoms.

This substance exists as a colourless and oily liquid having a chloroform-like odour. Moreover, this substance is not easily soluble in water. However, it is miscible with many organic solvents. A large amount of ethylidene chloride is produced every year for its important applications. Mainly, this substance is useful as feedstock for chemical synthesis (mainly for the synthesis of 1,1,1-trichloroethane). In addition, this substance is useful as a solvent for plastics, oils, and fats, as a degreaser, as a fumigant, and as a halon fire extinguisher.

What is the Difference Between Ethylene Dichloride and Ethylidene Chloride?

Ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride are two organic compounds having the ethylene chemical structure with two chlorine atoms replacing two hydrogen atoms. The key difference between ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride is that ethylene dichloride has two chlorine atoms bound to two carbon atoms of the ethylene chemical structure, whereas ethylidene chloride contains two chlorine atoms bound to the same carbon atom. Moreover, ethylene dichloride is used in vinyl chloride monomer production, as a degreaser, as a paint remover, as a source of chlorine for laboratory uses, in dry cleaning, as an anti-knock additive in leaded fuels, etc. Ethylidene chloride, on the other hand, is useful as feedstock for chemical synthesis (mainly for the synthesis of 1,1,1-trichloroethane).

The following table summarizes the difference between ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride.

Summary – Ethylene Dichloride vs Ethylidene Chloride

Ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride are two organic compounds having the ethylene chemical structure with two chlorine atoms replacing two hydrogen atoms. The key difference between ethylene dichloride and ethylidene chloride is that ethylene dichloride has two chlorine atoms bound to two carbon atoms of the ethylene chemical structure whereas ethylidene chloride contains two chlorine atoms bound to the same carbon atom.

Reference:

1. “Ethylene Dichloride.” Westlake Chemical.

Image Courtesy:

1.  “1,1-Dichloroethane 3” The original uploader was Sbrools at English Wikipedia. – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “1,2-dichloroethane” By Armtuk – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia