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Also called ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE, or 1,2-DICHLOROETHANE, a colourless, toxic, volatile liquid belonging to the family of organic halogen compounds and having an odour resembling that of chloroform. It was formerly important as a solvent and as a raw material for making ethylene glycol and polysulfide rubbers, but now it is principally used for making vinyl chloride and as a component of tetraethyllead anti-knock formulations for gasoline. Ethylene chloride is produced by the reaction of ethylene and chlorine; it is denser than water and practically insoluble in it. It is an effective solvent for fats, waxes, greases, and numerous other organic compounds, but its use as a solvent has been largely discontinued in favour of tetra-chloroethylene.

Ethylene chloride is converted to vinyl chloride (an important raw material for plastics) by contact with a catalyst at about 500° C (900° F) or by reaction with dilute caustic alkali at about 150° C (300° F). The use of ethylene chloride with tetraethyllead depends upon its ability to prevent the accumulation of lead compounds within the engine by converting them into lead chloride, which is sufficiently volatile to be vaporized and carried away in the exhaust gases.