With sodium disulphide in alcoholic solution ethylene dichloride (α,β‐dichloroethane) gives diethylene 1,2,5,6‐tetra‐sulphide1, and with sodium polysulphide (Na2S5) in aqueous emulsion it forms polymeric ethylene polysulphide, which is known as the artificial rubber, thiocol2. Both have an unpleasant garlic‐like odour which can be removed by mixing with copper powder when odourless thiocol is obtained.