Pinkfreud is correct. The chemical is ketene. Other names (synonyms)
for this chemical are: ethenone, carbomethene, and keto-ethylene.
The formula is more frequently written as C2H2O or CH2CO
Information from a search on ketene in ChemIDPlus
http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/
However, if you want to indicate its stucture better, you can write it
as: H2C=C=O
Each = is a double bond. The two carbon atoms are linked by a double
bond. One of the carbons is also linked by a second double bond to
the oxygen atom, while the other carbon has two single bonds with two
hydrogen atoms.
If you go to http://chemistry.anl.gov/compmat/molecules/htm/ch2co.htm
you can see a picture of the molecule. The hydogens are shown in
white, the carbons in grey and the oxygen in red. If you click your
mouse onto the picture, and then move it around, the picture will
rotate and show you the shape of the molecule from different angles.
"Acetic acid is converted into hot vapor where it breaks down into
ketene and water in the presence of catalysts. The ketene so produced
again is reacted with acetic acid to give acetic anhydride."
Acetic anhydride is used to make aspirin, vitamin preparations,
adhesives, textiles, paints, and cellulose acetate.
http://www.indiainfoline.com/sect/chor/ch07.html
Please let me know in a clarification if you need any more information
about this.
Search strategy: I knew previously about ChemIDPlus. I also searched
on Google for ketene, and for ketene + used + produce |
