Acetylene is often used as a fuel for welding torches since it produces a large amount of heat upon combustion. Oxy-acetylene welding uses compressed acetylene and compressed oxygen for mixing in the torch flame.
Slight amounts of acetylene is also used for lighting – for example in a miner’s helmet as it provides enough light to see in dark underground mine shafts. Before electricity was invented, it was common to burn acetylene for light and heat in many countries.
