An acetylene cylinder is usually filled with acetone and a monolithic filler or balsa wood before acetylene gas is pumped into it?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not Applicable

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that acetylene is stored in cylinders as a dissolved gas in a solvent with a porous filler to stabilize it. Acetylene by itself becomes highly unstable when pressurized, so the cylinder is designed to dissolve it in acetone inside a porous filler matrix. The acetone acts as a solvent that holds a large amount of acetylene in solution, while the monolithic filler or balsa wood provides a porous structure and surface area, plus a bit of heat sinking. This combination prevents the formation of free gas pockets and helps control heat and pressure, reducing the risk of decomposition or explosion. As the gas is pumped in, it dissolves into the acetone within that porous medium, creating a stable, high-pressure solution rather than storing pure acetylene gas.