DEFINITION
Acetylene (ethyne)- colorless and odorless gas, has a weak narcotic effect(the structure of the molecule is shown in Fig. 1).
Slightly soluble in water and very good in acetone. In the form of an acetone solution, it is stored in steel cylinders filled with some inert porous material. Mixtures of acetylene with air are explosive.
Rice. 1. The structure of the acetylene molecule.
Table 1. Physical properties acetylene.
Getting acetylene
Allocate industrial and laboratory methods obtaining acetylene. So, in industry, acetylene is obtained by high-temperature cracking of methane:
2CH 4 → CH≡CH +3H 2.
In the laboratory, acetylene is obtained by hydrolysis of calcium carbide:
CaC 2 + 2H 2 O \u003d Ca (OH) 2 + C 2 H 2.
In addition to the above reactions, to obtain acetylene, the reactions of dehydrogenation of alkanes and alkenes are used:
CH 3 -CH 3 → CH≡CH +2H 2;
CH 2 \u003d CH 2 → CH≡CH + H 2.
Chemical properties of acetylene
Acetylene enters into addition reactions proceeding through nucleophilic mechanism, such as the:
– hydrogenation
СH≡CH +H 2 O→ → CH 3 -CH=O (H 2 SO 4 (18%), t = 90 o C);
– halogenation
CH≡CH +Br 2 →CHBr=CHBr + Br 2 →CHBr 2 -CHBr 2 ;
– hydrohalogenation
СH≡CH + HСl → CH 2 \u003d CHCl + HCl → CH 3 -CHCl 2.
In addition, acetylene is able to form salts when interacting with active metals(1) and silver oxide (2):
2CH≡CH +2Na→2CH≡C-Na + H 2 (1);
СH≡CH + Ag 2 O → Ag- С≡C-Ag↓ + H 2 O (2).
It is able to trimerize:
3C 2 H 2 → C 6 H 6 (t = 600 o C, kat = C active).
Application of acetylene
Acetylene is the starting material for many of the most important chemical industries. For example, various halogen derivatives are obtained from acetylene, such as tetrachloroethane and trichlorethylene, which are good solvents, as well as vinyl chloride, which serves as a monomer for the production of polyvinyl chloride. In addition, acetylene is used to produce synthetic rubbers.
Examples of problem solving
EXAMPLE 1
| Exercise | An equimolecular mixture of acetylene and formaldehyde reacts completely with 69.6 g of Ag 2 O dissolved in ammonia. Determine composition initial mixture. |
| Decision | Let's write the equations of the reactions specified in the condition of the problem: HC≡CH + Ag 2 O → AgC≡Cag + H 2 O (1); H-C(O)H + 2 Ag 2 O → CO 2 + H 2 O + 4Ag (2). Calculate the amount of silver oxide (I) substance: n(Ag 2 O) = m(Ag 2 O) / M(Ag 2 O); M(Ag 2 O) = 232 g/mol; n (Ag 2 O) \u003d 69.6 / 232 \u003d 0.3 mol. According to equation (2), the amount of formaldehyde substance will be equal to 0.1 mol. According to the condition of the problem, the mixture is equimolecular, therefore, acetylene will also be 0.1 mol. Find the masses of the substances that make up the mixture: M(HC≡CH) = 26 g/mol; M(H-C(O)H) = 30 g/mol; m(HC≡CH) = 0.1 x 26 = 2.6 g; m(H-C(O)H) = 0.1 × 30 = 3 g. |
| Answer | The mass of acetylene is 2.6 g, formaldehyde - 3 g. |
EXAMPLE 2
| Exercise | When a mixture of propane and acetylene is passed through a bottle of bromine water the mass of the flask increased by 1.3 g. With the complete combustion of the same amount of the initial mixture of hydrocarbons, 14 liters (N.O.) of carbon monoxide (IV) were released. Determine the mass fraction of propane in the initial mixture. |
| Decision | When a mixture of propane and acetylene is passed through a bottle of bromine water, acetylene is absorbed. Let us write the chemical reaction equation corresponding to this process: HC ≡ CH + 2Br 2 → NSVr 2 -SNVr 2. Thus, the value by which the mass of the bottle (1.3 g) has increased is the mass of acetylene. Find the amount of acetylene substance (molar mass - 26 g / mol): n (C 2 H 2) \u003d m (C 2 H 2) / M (C 2 H 2); n (C 2 H 2) \u003d 1.3 / 26 \u003d 0.05 mol. We write the reaction equation for the combustion of acetylene: 2C 2 H 2 + 5O 2 \u003d 4CO 2 + 2H 2 O. According to the reaction equation, 2 mol of acetylene entered it, however, it is known that 0.05 mol of this amount was absorbed by bromine water. Those. stood out: 2-0.05 \u003d 0.1 mol CO 2. Let's find total carbon monoxide (IV): n sum (CO 2) \u003d V (CO 2) / V m; n sum (CO 2) \u003d 14 / 22.4 \u003d 0.625 mol. We write the equation for the propane combustion reaction: C 3 H 8 + 5O 2 \u003d 3CO 2 + 4H 2 O. Considering that 0.1 mol of carbon monoxide (IV) was released in the combustion reaction of acetylene, the amount of carbon monoxide (IV) substance released during the combustion of propane is equal to: 0.625 - 0.1 \u003d 0.525 mol CO 2. Find the amount of propane substance that entered into the combustion reaction. According to the reaction equation n(CO 2) : n(C 3 H 8) = 3: 1, i.e. n (C 3 H 8) \u003d n (CO 2) / 3 \u003d 0.525 / 3 \u003d 0.175 mol. Calculate the mass of propane (molar mass 44 g/mol): m (C 3 H 8) \u003d n (C 3 H 8) × M (C 3 H 8); m (C 3 H 8) \u003d 0.175 × 44 \u003d 7.7 g. Then, total weight mixture of hydrocarbons will be: m mixture \u003d m (C 2 H 2) + m (C 3 H 8) \u003d 1.3 + 7.7 \u003d 9.0 g. Find the mass fraction of propane in the mixture: ω = m / m mixture × 100%; ω (C 3 H 8) \u003d m (C 3 H 8) / m mixture × 100%; ω (C 3 H 8) \u003d 7.7 / 9.0 × 100% \u003d 0.856 × 100% \u003d 85.6%. |
| Answer | Mass fraction propane 85.6%. |
Acetylene is a chemical substance, hydrocarbon, the simplest alkyne, having chemical formula C2H2 (C 2 H 2), with a boiling point of -84°C, molar mass 26.04 g/mol. Under atmospheric conditions, acetylene is a colorless gas with a density at +20°C and an absolute pressure of 1 bar 1.097 kg/m³ (lighter than air), a density at 0°C 1.1716 kg/m³, odorless (the well-known smell of garlic is present in used in industry and non-industrial non-laboratory applications of acetylene due to impurities of phosphorus and hydrogen sulfide). Acetylene gas is slightly soluble in water, but easily soluble in acetone and ethyl alcohol.
Reactions of acetylene
Acetylene burns at a concentration in air from 2.5% to 80% (and almost up to 100% under certain conditions; at a concentration of 100% and the coincidence of certain conditions, acetylene can violently, with an explosion, self-decompose into carbon and hydrogen), with the formation of very hot, bright and smoky flames. The combustion temperature of acetylene in air or oxygen can reach 3300°C.
In reactions with metals such as copper, silver and mercury, as well as their alloys and salts, acetylene forms acetylenides. For example, silver nitrate reacts with acetylene to form silver acetylenide and nitric acid:
2AgNO 3 + C2H2 → Ag 2 C 2 + 2HNO 3
Some acetylides, including the aforementioned silver acetylenide Ag2C2, are strong and dangerous to handle. explosives, detonating when heated, as well as from impact. Cases are known when silver acetylenide was formed at the joints of pipes for transporting acetylene, which were soldered using silver solder.
The German chemist Walter Reppe discovered that, in the presence of metal catalysts, acetylene can react with many substances to form industrially significant chemical compounds. These reactions are now called by his name, the Reppe reactions.
Reactions of acetylene C2H2 with ROH alcohols, hydrocyanic acid HCN, hydrochloric acid HCl or carboxylic acids give vinyl compounds. For example, acetylene and hydrochloric acid:
C2H2 + HCl →
The reaction of ethylene with carbon monoxide gives acrylic acid or acrylic esters used in the manufacture of organic glass:
C2H2 + CO + H2O → CH 2 \u003d CHCO 2 H
The cyclization reaction allows you to convert acetylene to benzene:
3C2H2 → C6H6
Getting acetylene
Basically, acetylene is produced by incomplete combustion of methane or as a by-product and unwanted product in the production of ethylene by hydrocarbon cracking (part of this unwanted acetylene is catalytically hydrogenated to ethylene). The annual production of acetylene by the latter method is approximately 400,000 tons.
Until the 1950s, when oil replaced coal as a source of carbon, acetylene was one of the main raw materials in chemical industry. Then (and still in laboratory conditions) acetylene was produced by hydrolysis of calcium carbide:
CaC2 + 2H 2 O → Ca(OH) 2 + C2H2
Acetylene cylinders
Acetylene can be liquefied and cured, however, as in gaseous state at pressures above about 7 bar, both in liquid and solid state, acetylene is sensitive to impact and explosive. Therefore, acetylene is always supplied to users in cylinders dissolved in acetone or dimethylformamide and completely filled with Agamassan (or AGA-massan, which stands for “AGA compound” in Swedish). AGA is the name of a Swedish manufacturer and supplier of industrial gases , now a division of Linde Gas, founded at one time by the inventor of Agamassan "a Gustaf Dalen. Agamassan" includes asbestos, cement, coal and diatomaceous earth). As an alternative to Agamassan, a diatomaceous earth or ceramic/silicate lime filler can be used.
In acetylene cylinders, it is usually not more than 17 bar, and the outlet pressure from the cylinder is not more than 1 bar, and usually about 0.5 bar.
Acetylene cylinders are usually equipped with both conventional pressure relief valves, including passing and isothermal pressure relief valves, and special safety valves, which operate when the temperature rises above 100°C, releasing acetylene into the atmosphere. These valves act like fusible links.
In Russia, acetylene cylinders are painted white, with "Acetylene" written in red.
Use of acetylene
The most well-known area of acetylene use is oxy-acetylene welding. Oxy-acetylene cutting of metals is also widespread. Both uses are extremely high temperature burning acetylene. Approximately 20% of the industrially produced acetylene in the world is used for these purposes. However, the use of acetylene welding is gradually declining due to the growing popularity of electric arc welding - cutting with acetylene with oxygen, however, remains as common.
In the chemical industry, acetylene is used in the synthesis of many organic compounds such as acetaldehyde and acetic acid.
Among obsolete applications is the use of acetylene as a light source (the so-called carbide lamps, in which calcium carbide CaC2 released acetylene when it reacted with water, and the acetylene was burned, were used, for example, as headlights in all the first cars).
Acetylene has been used in the past as a general anesthetic. At the same time, it can be noted that when handling acetylene, you should not usually be especially afraid of it. physiological impact: before the concentration of acetylene in the inhaled air reaches dangerous limits, the lower flammability threshold will have long been exceeded (recall, this is 2.5%) - which poses a much more serious danger.
Alkynes (otherwise acetylenic hydrocarbons) are hydrocarbons containing a triple bond between carbon atoms, with general formula CnH2n-2. The carbon atoms in the triple bond are in a state of sp - hybridization.
Reaction of acetylene with bromine water
The acetylene molecule contains a triple bond, bromine destroys it and joins the acetylene. Terabromomethane is formed. Bromine is consumed in the formation of tetrabromoethane. Bromine water (yellow) - discolors.
This reaction proceeds at a lower rate than in the series of ethylene hydrocarbons. The reaction also proceeds in steps:
HC ≡ CH + Br 2 → CHBr = CHBr + Br 2 → CHBr 2 - CHBr 2
acetylene → 1,2-dibromoethane → 1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane
The decolorization of bromine water proves the unsaturation of acetylene.
The reaction of acetylene with a solution of potassium permanganate
In a solution of potassium permanganate, acetylene is oxidized, and the molecule breaks at the site of the triple bond, the solution quickly becomes colorless.
3HC ≡ CH + 10KMnO 4 + 2H 2 O → 6CO 2 + 10KOH + 10MnO 2
This reaction is a qualitative reaction for double and triple bonds.
The reaction of acetylene with an ammonia solution of silver oxide
If acetylene is passed through an ammonia solution of silver oxide, the hydrogen atoms in the acetylene molecule are easily replaced by metals, since they have high mobility. AT this experience hydrogen atoms are replaced by silver atoms. Silver acetylenide is formed - a precipitate yellow color(explosive).
CH ≡ CH + OH → AgC≡CAg↓ + NH 3 + H 2 O
This reaction is a qualitative reaction for a triple bond.
Synthetic rubber, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, polyvinyl chloride resins, benzene - this is not a complete list of the most important chemical compounds. Industry produces them organic synthesis. These products are obtained from acetylene. Chemical properties unsaturated hydrocarbons with a triple bond, which include given substance, determine their ability to reactions of addition, oxidation and polymerization. Separately, it must be said about the high energy intensity of gas.
Therefore, ethine mixed with oxygen is used in welding metal parts. They can be made of cast iron, steel and non-ferrous metals. The burning of acetylene can be controlled, which is a great advantage. The substance is used as a raw material for the production of polymers, solvents, fibers and other valuable materials. The presence of double bonds in a molecule provides the ability to attach atoms of other chemical elements. When the compound burns, a lot of heat is released. In our article, we will study in detail the chemical properties of acetylene listed above, also called ethine, and also find out how to obtain it in industry.
How the structure of a molecule determines the properties of organic matter
A linear ethine molecule contains two carbon atoms linked by one sigma and two pi bonds. Carbon atoms are in a state of sp hybridization. Two hydrogen atoms, together with the carbon skeleton, are located in the plane of the molecule, and the double bonds are oriented mutually. perpendicular planes. Acetylene reactions such as the oxidation of bromine water or the addition of hydrogen halides occur at the site of pi bond cleavage. Compared to the substances of the ethylene series, these processes are much more active in alkynes. This is due to the presence of a triple bond in their molecules. It also explains the fact that the addition reaction is carried out in two stages: first, compounds of the ethene series are formed, then - the final product related to saturated hydrocarbons or their halogen derivatives.
Physical characterization and acquisition
Aggregate form of ethine at normal conditions- gas. Acetylene is lighter than air and does not dissolve well in water. Its formula is C 2 H 2, molecular mass- 26 g/mol. The substance boils at a temperature of about 83.8 °C. Like any gas, it can be compressed under pressure, but the process is accompanied by an explosion. The connection is very energy intensive, the specific heat of combustion is 14000 kcal/m 3 . Acetylene is obtained from calcium carbide or ethane.
Basic and cost effective industrial way hydrocarbon production is pyrolysis. It has several varieties, among which the most promising are homogeneous and oxidative processes. The feedstock in them is methane, the molecules of which are dehydrogenated. The carbide method has been used in chemistry for a long time. Here, calcium carbide and water react with each other. Acetylene obtained by this method, which is very important, contains practically no impurities. However, the process itself is energy intensive and requires large amounts of electricity.
hydrogenation reaction
An example of a heterogeneous catalytic reaction, characteristic for unsaturated hydrocarbons with a triple bond between carbon atoms, their interaction with hydrogen can serve. Heating and the presence of a nickel catalyst are the main conditions for hydrogenation. As we said earlier, addition reactions are inherent in the chemical properties of acetylene. They go through two stages.
First, one pi bond breaks and two hydrogen atoms join the free valences of the carbon atoms. An alkene is formed this case- ethylene. Then comes the destruction of one unlimited connection in its molecule, and there is a limiting connection - ethane. Acetylene, as we see, as a result of hydrogenation completely lost double bonds and turned into
Qualitative response to ethine
AT organic chemistry reactions are used to determine the presence of a certain complex of atoms or species in a substance chemical bond. They are called quality. To prove the presence of two unsaturated pi bonds in alkyne molecules, a reagent such as bromine water is used. Acetylene is passed through brown solution Br 2 and observe its discoloration. A product is obtained - tetrabromoethane, which refers to substances - halogen derivatives of saturated hydrocarbons.
Polyvinyl chloride resins
Important practical value has an addition reaction of hydrogen chloride to ethyne, which in the first stage ends with the formation of vinyl chloride. Its molecules retain in their composition double bond, which ensures their ability to connect with each other and form a polymer.
The chemical properties of acetylene, in particular the polymerization reaction of its derivative - vinyl chloride, made it possible to create a whole group of substances with unique technical specifications. For example, termovil and fibrovil are fibers used to produce heavy-duty fabrics used in tailoring workwear. Modern building, drainage and Finishing work it is impossible to imagine without PVC pipes, foams and floor coverings. They are light, durable, resistant to corrosion and much cheaper than products made from natural materials: metal or wood.
Reaction of M. G. Kucherov
Speaking about the well-known chemical properties of a substance, for example, the reactions of polymerization, addition or combustion of acetylene, we mentioned that the gas is practically insoluble in water. However, in the presence of mercury nitrate or sulfate as a catalyst, a reaction occurs that was first carried out back in the 19th century by the famous Russian scientist M. G. Kucherov. In it, the product of the interaction between water and ethine is acetaldehyde. It, in turn, belongs to the compounds most in demand in industry, as it serves as a raw material for obtaining ethyl alcohol in the recovery reaction.
If acetaldehyde is oxidized, then we get another important organic matter - acetic acid. AT recent times the reaction of M. G. Kucherov is used on a smaller scale due to the toxicity of the catalyst used. Ethane is now increasingly used as a feedstock. Acetylene is obtained as a result of its dehydrogenation.
In our article, we examined the main chemical properties and the production of acetylene, as well as its application in industry.
Receipt
In the laboratory
In the laboratory, as well as in gas welding equipment, acetylene is obtained by the action of water on calcium carbide (F. Wöhler, 1862),
The resulting acetylene has a high degree purity 99.9%. The main disadvantage of the process is the high power consumption: 10,000-11,000 kWh per 1 ton of acetylene.
Physical properties
Acetylene requires great care in handling. May explode on impact, when heated to 500 °C or when compressed above 0.2 MPa at room temperature. A jet of acetylene released into the open air can ignite from the slightest spark, including from the discharge of static electricity from a finger. Acetylene is stored in special cylinders filled with a porous material impregnated with acetone.
Chemical properties
Acetylene (ethyne) is characterized by addition reactions:
HC≡CH + Cl 2 -> ClCH=CHCl
Acetylene with water, in the presence of salts and other catalysts, forms acetaldehyde (Kucherov's reaction). Due to the presence of a triple bond, the molecule is high-energy and has a large specific heat combustion - 14000 kcal / m³ (50.4 MJ / kg). When burned in oxygen, the flame temperature reaches 3150 °C. Acetylene can polymerize to benzene and other organic compounds(polyacetylene, vinylacetylene). Polymerization to benzene requires graphite and a temperature of ~500 °C. In the presence of catalysts such as nickel tricarbonyl(triphenylphosphine) the temperature of the cyclization reaction can be lowered to 60-70°C.
Main chemical reactions acetylene (addition reactions, pivot table 1.) :
The main chemical reactions of acetylene (reactions of addition, dimerization, polymerization, cyclomerization, summary table 2.):
Reacts with ammonia solutions salts of Cu (I) and Ag (I) with the formation of sparingly soluble, explosive acetylenides - this reaction is used for the qualitative determination of acetylene and its difference from alkenes (which also discolor bromine water and potassium permanganate solution).
Story
Application
Acetylene is used:
Security
Since acetylene is insoluble in water, and its mixtures with oxygen can explode in very wide range concentrations, it cannot be collected in gas meters.
Acetylene explodes at a temperature of about 500 ° C or a pressure above 0.2 MPa; CPV 2.3-80.7%, self-ignition temperature 335 °C. The explosiveness is reduced when acetylene is diluted with other gases, such as nitrogen, methane, or propane.
With prolonged contact of acetylene with copper and silver, copper and silver acetylenides are formed, which explode on impact or an increase in temperature. Therefore, when storing acetylene, materials containing copper (for example, cylinder valves) are not used.
Acetylene has little toxic effect. For acetylene, MPCm.r. is normalized. = MPC s.s. = 1.5 mg/m³ according to hygienic standards GN 2.1.6.1338-03 "Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPC) of pollutants in atmospheric air populated areas."
MPKr.z. (working area) is not installed (according to GOST 5457-75 and GN 2.2.5.1314-03), since the concentration limits of flame distribution in a mixture with air is 2.5-100%.
It is stored and transported in steel cylinders filled with an inert porous mass (for example, charcoal). white color(with a red inscription "A") in the form of a solution in acetone under a pressure of 1.5-2.5 MPa.
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Notes
Literature
- Miller S. A. Acetylene, its properties, production and application. - L.: Chemistry, 1969. - T. 1. - 680 p.
- Korolchenko A. Ya., Korolchenko D. A. Fire and explosion hazard of substances and materials and means of extinguishing them. Handbook: in 2 parts. Part 1. - M .: Pozhnauka Association, 2004. - 713 p. - ISBN 5-901283-02-3.
Links
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
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An excerpt characterizing Acetylene
- You better wait until you get married ...- You know, - said Anatole, - j "adore les petites filles: [I love girls:] - now he will be lost.
- You already got caught once on a petite fille [girl], - said Dolokhov, who knew about Anatole's marriage. - Look!
Well, you can't do it twice! BUT? - said Anatole, laughing good-naturedly.
The next day after the theater, the Rostovs did not go anywhere and no one came to them. Marya Dmitrievna, hiding from Natasha, was talking to her father about something. Natasha guessed that they were talking about the old prince and inventing something, and she was worried and offended by this. She waited every minute for Prince Andrei, and twice that day sent the janitor to Vzdvizhenka to find out if he had arrived. He didn't come. It was now harder for her than the first days of her arrival. To her impatience and sadness about him were joined bad memory about a meeting with Princess Mary and the old prince, and fear and anxiety, for which she did not know the reason. It seemed to her that either he would never come, or that before he arrived, something would happen to her. She could not, as before, calmly and for a long time, alone with herself, think about him. As soon as she began to think about him, the recollection of him was joined by the recollection of the old prince, of Princess Mary, and of the last performance, and of Kuragin. She again presented herself with the question of whether she was to blame, whether her loyalty to Prince Andrei had already been violated, and again she found herself remembering every word, every gesture, every shade of the play of expression on the face of this man, who knew how to arouse in her incomprehensible for her and a terrible feeling. In the eyes of her family, Natasha seemed livelier than usual, but she was far from being as calm and happy as she had been before.
On Sunday morning, Marya Dmitrievna invited her guests to Mass at her parish of the Assumption on Mogiltsy.
“I don’t like these fashionable churches,” she said, apparently proud of her free-thinking. “There is only one God everywhere. Our priest is fine, he serves decently, it's so noble, and so is the deacon. Is it any holiness from this that they sing concerts on the kliros? I do not like, one pampering!
Marya Dmitrievna loved Sundays and knew how to celebrate them. Her house was all washed and cleaned on Saturday; people and she did not work, everyone was festively discharged, and everyone was at mass. Meals were added to the master's dinner, and people were given vodka and a roasted goose or pig. But on nothing in the whole house was the holiday so noticeable as on the broad, stern face of Marya Dmitrievna, which on that day assumed an unchanging expression of solemnity.
When they had drunk coffee after mass, in the living room with the covers removed, Marya Dmitrievna was informed that the carriage was ready, and with a stern look, dressed in a ceremonial shawl in which she made visits, she got up and announced that she was going to Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky to explain to him about Natasha.
After the departure of Marya Dmitrievna, a fashionista from Madame Chalmet came to the Rostovs, and Natasha, having closed the door in the room next to the living room, very pleased with the entertainment, began trying on new dresses. While she, putting on a bodice, still sleeveless, swept on a live thread, and bending her head, looked in the mirror at how her back was sitting, she heard in the living room the animated sounds of the voice of her father and another, female voice which made her blush. It was Ellen's voice. Before Natasha had time to take off the bodice she was trying on, the door opened and Countess Bezukhaya entered the room, beaming with a good-natured and affectionate smile, in a dark purple, high-necked velvet dress.
Ah, ma delicieuse! [Oh, my lovely!] - she said to the blushing Natasha. - Charmante! [Charming!] No, it's not like anything, my dear count, - she said to Ilya Andreevich, who came in behind her. - How to live in Moscow and not go anywhere? No, I won't leave you! This evening m lle Georges is declaiming at my place and some people will gather; and if you don't bring your beauties, who are better than m lle Georges, then I don't want to know you. There is no husband, he went to Tver, otherwise I would have sent him for you. By all means come, by all means, at the ninth hour. She nodded her head at the familiar fashionista, who respectfully crouched down to her, and sat down on an armchair near the mirror, picturesquely spreading the folds of her velvet dress. She did not stop chatting good-naturedly and cheerfully, constantly admiring Natasha's beauty. She examined her dresses and praised them, and also boasted of her new dress en gaz metallique [made of metal-colored gauze] which she had received from Paris and advised Natasha to do the same.
“However, everything suits you, my lovely,” she said.
A smile of pleasure never left Natasha's face. She felt happy and flourishing under the praises of this dear Countess Bezukhova, who had previously seemed to her such an impregnable and important lady, and who was now so kind to her. Natasha became cheerful and felt almost in love with this beautiful and such good-natured woman. Helen, for her part, sincerely admired Natasha and wanted to amuse her. Anatole asked her to set him up with Natasha, and for this she came to the Rostovs. The thought of bringing her brother together with Natasha amused her.
In spite of the fact that she had previously been annoyed with Natasha for having wrested Boris from her in Petersburg, now she did not even think about it, and with all her heart, in her own way, wished Natasha well. Leaving the Rostovs, she withdrew her protegee aside.
- Yesterday my brother dined with me - we were dying of laughter - he does not eat anything and sighs for you, my charm. Il est fou, mais fou amoureux de vous, ma chere. [He's crazy, but he's crazy in love with you, my dear.]
Natasha blushed purple upon hearing these words.
- How blushing, how blushing, ma delicieuse! [my charm!] - Helen said. - You should definitely come. Si vous aimez quelqu "un, ma delicieuse, ce n" est pas une raison pour se cloitrer. Si meme vous etes promise, je suis sure que votre promis aurait desire que vous alliez dans le monde en son absence plutot que deperir d "ennui. [From the fact that you love someone, my lovely, you should not live as a nun. Even if you're a bride, I'm sure your fiancé would rather have you go out into the world in his absence than die of boredom.]
“So she knows that I am a bride, so she and her husband, with Pierre, with this fair Pierre, Natasha thought, talked and laughed about it. So it was nothing." And again, under the influence of Helen, what had previously seemed terrible seemed simple and natural. “And she is such a grande dame, [important lady,] so sweet and so evidently loves me with all her heart,” thought Natasha. And why not have fun? thought Natasha, looking at Helen with surprised, wide-open eyes.
Marya Dmitrievna returned to dinner, silent and serious, obviously having suffered a defeat at the old prince's. She was still too excited about the collision to be able to calmly tell the story. To the question of the count, she answered that everything was fine and that she would tell tomorrow. Learning about the visit of Countess Bezukhova and the invitation to the evening, Marya Dmitrievna said:
- I don’t like to hang out with Bezukhova and I won’t advise; Well, yes, if you promised, go, you’ll be scattered, ”she added, turning to Natasha.
Count Ilya Andreich took his girls to Countess Bezukhova. There were quite a lot of people at the evening. But the whole society was almost unfamiliar to Natasha. Count Ilya Andreich noted with displeasure that this whole society consisted mainly of men and women, known for their liberties of treatment. M lle Georges, surrounded by young people, stood in the corner of the living room. There were several Frenchmen, among them Metivier, who, since Helene's arrival, had been her housewife. Count Ilya Andreich made up his mind not to sit down at cards, not to leave his daughters, and to leave as soon as the performance of Georges was over.
Anatole was apparently at the door waiting for the Rostovs to enter. He immediately greeted the count, went up to Natasha and followed her. As soon as Natasha saw him, just as in the theater, a feeling of conceited pleasure that he liked her and fear from the absence of moral barriers between her and him seized her. Helen joyfully received Natasha and loudly admired her beauty and toilet. Shortly after their arrival, m lle Georges left the room to dress. In the living room they began to arrange chairs and sit down. Anatole moved a chair to Natasha and wanted to sit beside her, but the count, who did not take his eyes off Natasha, sat down beside her. Anatole sat in the back.
M lle Georges, with bare, dimpled, thick arms, in a red shawl worn over one shoulder, stepped into the room reserved for her. empty space between the chairs and stopped in an unnatural pose. An enthusiastic whisper was heard. M lle Georges looked sternly and gloomily at the audience and began to speak some verses in French, where it was about her criminal love for her son. In places she raised her voice, in places she whispered, solemnly raising her head, in places she stopped and wheezed, rolling her eyes.
- Adorable, divin, delicieux! [Amazing, divine, wonderful!] - was heard from all sides. Natasha looked at fat Georges, but heard nothing, saw nothing, and understood nothing of what was going on in front of her; she only felt completely irrevocable again in that strange, insane world, so far from the former, in that world in which it was impossible to know what was good, what was bad, what was rational and what was insane. Behind her sat Anatole, and she, feeling his closeness, fearfully waited for something.
After the first monologue, the whole society stood up and surrounded m lle Georges, expressing their delight to her.
- How good she is! Natasha said to her father, who, along with the others, got up and moved towards the actress through the crowd.
“I can’t find it, looking at you,” Anatole said, following Natasha. He said it at a time when she alone could hear him. - You are charming ... from the moment I saw you, I did not stop ....
“Let’s go, let’s go, Natasha,” said the count, returning for his daughter. - How good!
Natasha, without saying anything, went up to her father and looked at him with questioning surprised eyes.
After several receptions of recitation, m lle Georges left and the Countess Bezuhaya asked for company in the hall.
The count wanted to leave, but Helen begged not to spoil her impromptu ball. The Rostovs remained. Anatole invited Natasha to a waltz, and during the waltz, he, shaking her body and hand, told her that she was ravissante [charming] and that he loved her. During the ecossaise, which she again danced with Kuragin, when they were alone, Anatole did not say anything to her and only looked at her. Natasha was in doubt if she saw in a dream what he said to her during the waltz. At the end of the first figure, he again shook hands with her. Natasha looked up at him with frightened eyes, but such a self-confidently gentle expression was in his affectionate look and smile that she could not, looking at him, say what she had to tell him. She lowered her eyes.
“Don't tell me such things, I'm engaged and in love with another,” she said quickly ... - She looked at him. Anatole was not embarrassed or upset by what she said.
- Don't tell me about it. What is my business? - he said. “I'm saying I'm madly, madly in love with you. Is it my fault that you are amazing? We start.
