A colorless crystalline solid

Used: Industrial Fuel, Steel Manufacturing, Artificial Ripening

The FSSAI has strictly banned its use for ripening fruits under the Food Safety and Standards Regulation.

UPSC Tip: If a question asks about the "Masala" used in fruit markets, remember it refers to Calcium Carbide, but the gas that actually does the ripening is Acetylene, and the safe hormone it tries to imitate is Ethylene.