Final answer:
Two significant differences between the IR spectra of ethyl alcohol and ethylene are: the presence of a broad peak around 3200-3600 cm^-1 in the IR spectrum of ethyl alcohol, corresponding to the O-H bond, and the presence of a strong and sharp peak around 3100-3150 cm^-1 in the IR spectrum of ethylene, corresponding to the C-H bonds in the double bond.
Step-by-step explanation:
One significant difference between the IR spectra of ethyl alcohol and ethylene is the presence of a broad peak around 3200-3600 cm^-1 in the IR spectrum of ethyl alcohol, which corresponds to the stretching vibrations of the O-H bond in the alcohol functional group. Ethylene, on the other hand, does not have an O-H bond and does not show this peak in its IR spectrum.
Another significant difference is the presence of a strong and sharp peak around 3100-3150 cm^-1 in the IR spectrum of ethylene, which corresponds to the stretching vibrations of the C-H bonds in the carbon-carbon double bond. Ethyl alcohol does not have a carbon-carbon double bond and does not show this peak in its IR spectrum.