乙烯利是液态液体化合物，化学名称为2-氯乙基膦酸。乙烯利在pH小于3.5的酸性水溶液中较为稳定，在pH大于4.1时分解。由于植物细胞的pH一般大于4.1，乙烯利在被植物细胞吸收后，会水解释放乙烯。乙烯利可增加有效分蘖（niè）、防止倒伏，可作为果实催熟剂使用，还可促进某些植物雌花的形成。
乙烯的主要作用是增强细胞中核糖核酸合成的能力，促进蛋白质的合成。在植物离层区如叶柄、果柄、花瓣基部，由于蛋白质的合成增加，促使在离层去纤维素酶重新合成，因为加速了离层形成，导致器官脱落。另外，乙烯还能能增强酶的活性，在果实成熟时还能活化磷酸酯酶及其它与果实成熟的有关酶，促进果实成熟。这就是为什么水果一旦成熟，即使被摘下了，内部的生化反应还是难以遏制，比如香蕉，只要几天就够了。
随着科学的发展，人工合成了能释放乙烯气体的化学物质乙烯利，稀释后的乙烯利被水果植物吸收后会转化成乙烯，促进水果成熟。
乙烯利逐渐普遍应用于果蔬催熟中，西红柿、苹果、樱桃、葡萄、黄瓜、南瓜、菠萝甚至棉花、咖啡、烟草、小麦等作物的生产中，都能见到乙烯利的身影。

Ethephon is a liquid liquid compound chemically known as 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. Ethephon is stable in acidic aqueous solutions with pH less than 3.5 and decomposes at pH greater than 4.1. Since plant cells generally have a pH greater than 4.1, ethephon, upon absorption by plant cells, hydrolyzes to release ethylene. Ethephon can increase effective tillering (NIE), prevent lodging, act as a fruit ripening agent, and promote the formation of female flowers in some plants.
The main role of ethylene is to enhance the ability of RNA synthesis in cells and promote protein synthesis. In plant abscission areas such as petioles, fruit stalks, and petal bases, increased protein synthesis promotes the re-synthesis of cellulase in abscission because of accelerated abscission formation, leading to organ abscission. In addition, ethylene can also enhance the activity of enzymes, in the fruit ripening can activate phosphatase and other fruit ripening related enzymes, promote fruit ripening. That's why, once ripe, even after being picked, the biochemical reactions inside a fruit, such as a banana, are difficult to contain in just a few days.
With the development of science, the chemical ethephon, which releases ethylene gas, was synthesized artificially. When the diluted ethephon is absorbed by fruit plants, it is converted into ethylene, which promotes fruit ripening.
Ethephon has gradually been widely used in fruit and vegetable ripening, including tomatoes, apples, cherries, grapes, cucumbers, pumpkins, pineapples and even cotton, coffee, tobacco, wheat and other crops.